By: E&P Staff Greg Osberg has been appointed the new publisher and chief executive for Philadelphia Newspapers, granting him oversight of The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia Daily News and Philly.com.
On Wednesday, Philadelphia Newspapers was sold to its senior lenders for $139 million in a bankruptcy auction.
Osberg, 52, is the former president and publisher of Newsweek. A report on Philly.com about the appointment suggested that the new ownership plans to have the company adopt a heavier emphasis on digital content for mobile devices. Osberg himself most recently ran a start-up firm that delivered news and other content to mobile phones.
The new publisher told the Daily News during a telephone interview that one of his three main goals for the Philly newsrooms is "to encourage and reward innovation throughout the company, with an emphasis on digital innovation."
Word of Osberg?s appointment arrived about a day after the papers? former creditors won control of the two newspapers and Web site. According to Philly.com, he cannot officially start until the auction results are approved by the bankruptcy judge and the sale is officially closed, which may happen by late June.
Among his challenges will be negotiating a new labor agreement with the papers' 14 unions.
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