With its takeover, the new company began to remove a number of top managers. Inquirer editor William K. Marimow stepped down Thursday and was replaced by an acting editor, Stan Wischnowski, formerly a deputy managing editor. Marimow said he would stay at the paper as an investigative reporter. The companywide staff reduction amounted to less than 5 percent, officials said.
Gregory J. Osberg, a former publisher of Newsweek, is Philadelphia Media Network's president and chief executive officer. He issued a statement acknowledging the end of the bankruptcy:
"We are pleased to finally begin operating the newspapers and Philly.com, and we believe that the company has tremendous potential as we build out our brands in the great city of Philadelphia, the fourth-largest media market in the nation."
One of Osberg's first moves is already unfolding - bringing the staff of Philly.com from its Center City suite of offices to the headquarters building at 400 N. Broad St. He plans "an integration summit" involving newsroom leaders of The Inquirer, the Daily News, and Philly.com on behalf of fast-tracking multimedia initiatives. There will be a series of meetings with employees beginning Monday.
A native of Paoli and a graduate of Conestoga High School, Osberg most recently was president and chief executive of Buzzwire Inc., a mobile-media company that provides content and video for mobile phones.
Robert J. Hall, publisher of The Inquirer and Daily News from 1990 to 2003, will serve as chief operating officer. Both men will be part of the new company's board of directors.
