Former Newsweek President Osberg To Head Up Philly Papers

Philadelphia Media/Philadelphia Newspapers

Greg Osberg, the long-time Newsweek executive who later headed up mobile video startup Buzzwire, has been hired as CEO of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Daily News and Philly.com by the media properties’ new owners. In its report, the Inquirer describes Osberg’s hiring “as a dramatic signal that the new entity … aims to steer the company toward a heavy emphasis on digital content that will be delivered on devices like cell phones or Apple’s new iPad.”

(He’ll certainly have his work cut out for him, considering that in August 2008 the Inquirer announced that with the exception of breaking news, it would wait to put stories online until they appeared first in the paper. Not sure if that policy still stands. We’ve asked).

At Newsweek, where he spent eight years as president, Osberg was credited with launching a mobile version of the magazine as well as relaunching the magazine’s website. He left for Buzzwire in 2008, saying, “I think it’s time to focus on the digital side. It’s what excites me and what motivates me.”

Osberg will likely also have to oversee steep cuts at the Philadelphia papers, which were sold earlier this week to their creditors. The new owners are reportedly asking for $20 million in concessions from the papers

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