The Philadelphia Inquirer 102952 225182328 2008-07-12T09:28:21Z Collectonian 181614 Add ISSN {{Infobox Newspaper | name = [[Image:Philly.png|225px]] | image = [[Image:PI01092008.jpg|border|175px]] | caption = The paper's [[January 9]] [[2008]] front page | type = Daily [[newspaper]] | format = [[Broadsheet]] | foundation = [[June 1]] [[1829]] (as ''The Pennsylvania Inquirer'') | price = USD 0.75 Monday-Saturday<br>USD 1.50 Sunday | owners = [[Philadelphia Media Holdings|Philadelphia Media Holdings LLC]] | circulation = 334,150 Daily<br>630,665 Sunday<ref name="circulation" /> | headquarters = 400 N. Broad Street<br>[[Philadelphia]] [[Pennsylvania|PA]] 19130<br>{{USA}} | chiefeditor = William K. Marimow | publisher = [[Brian Tierney]] | maneditor = Sandra Long<br>Michael Leary | assoceditor = Acel Moore, [[emeritus]] | staff = 472 | language = English | ISSN = 0885-6613 | website = [http://www.philly.com/inquirer/ www.philly.com/inquirer/] }} '''''The Philadelphia Inquirer''''' is a morning daily [[newspaper]] that serves the [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]] [[Delaware Valley|metropolitan area]] of the [[United States]]. The newspaper was founded by John R. Walker and [[John Norvell]] in June 1829 as '''''The Pennsylvania Inquirer''''' and is the third-oldest surviving daily newspaper in the United States.<ref name="Pressa">{{cite web |last=Wilkinson |first=Gerry |url=http://www.phillyppa.com/inquirer.html |title=The History of the Philadelphia Inquirer |publisher=Philadelphia Press Association |accessdate=2006-05-27}}</ref> Owned by the local group [[Philadelphia Media Holdings]] LLC, ''The Inquirer'' has the sixteenth largest average weekday U.S. [[newspaper circulation]], and has won eighteen [[Pulitzer Prize]]s.<ref name="circulation">{{cite web |url=http://www.burrellesluce.com/top100/2008_Top_100List.pdf |title=Top 100 Newspapers US Daily Newspapers |publisher=[[Audit Bureau of Circulations]] |accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref> The paper has risen and fallen in prominence throughout its history. ''The Inquirer'' first became a major newspaper during the [[American Civil War]] when its war coverage was popular on both sides. The paper's circulation dropped after the war, then rose by the end of the 19th century. Originally supportive of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], ''The Inquirer'''s political affiliation eventually shifted towards the [[Whig Party (United States)|Whig Party]] and then the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] before officially becoming politically independent in the middle of the 20th century. By the end of the 1960s, ''The Inquirer'' trailed its chief competitor, the ''[[Philadelphia Bulletin|Philadelphia Evening Bulletin]]'', and lacked modern facilities and experienced staff. In the 1970s, [[Knight Ridder|new owners]] and editors turned the newspaper into one of the country's most prominent, winning 17 Pulitzers in 15 years. Its prestige has since waned because of cost-cutting and a shift of focus to more local coverage. == History == ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' was founded as ''The Pennsylvania Inquirer'' by printer John R. Walker and [[John Norvell]], former editor of Philadelphia's largest newspaper the ''Aurora & Gazette''. In an [[editorial]], the first issue of ''The Pennsylvania Inquirer'' promised that the paper would be devoted to the right of a minority to voice their opinion and "the maintenance of the rights and liberties of the people, equally against the abuses as the usurpation of power." They pledged support to then [[Andrew Jackson|President Andrew Jackson]] and "home industries, American manufactures, and internal improvements that so materially contribute to the agricultural, commercial and national prosperity."<ref name="Inqhistory">{{cite web |last=Williams |first=Edgar ‏|date=[[June 20]] [[2003]] |url=http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/6135296.htm?1cc |title=A history of The Inquirer |publisher=The Philadelphia Inquirer |accessdate=2006-05-27 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070219044935/http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/6135296.htm?1c |archivedate=2007-02-19}}</ref> Founded on [[June 1]] [[1829]], ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' is the third oldest surviving daily newspaper in the [[United States]]. However, in 1962, an ''Inquirer''-commissioned historian traced ''The Inquirer'' to [[John Dunlap]]'s ''The Pennsylvania Packet'', which was founded on [[October 28]] [[1771]]. In 1850 ''The Packet'' was merged with another newspaper ''The North American'', which later merged with the ''[[Public Ledger (Philadelphia)|Philadelphia Public Ledger]]''.<ref name="Pressa"/> Finally, the ''Public Ledger'' merged with ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' in the 1930s and between 1962 and 1975, a line on ''The Inquirer'''s front page claimed that the newspaper is the United States' oldest surviving daily newspaper.<ref name="Inqhistory"/> Six months after ''The Inquirer'' was founded, with competition from eight established daily newspapers, lack of funds forced Norvell and Walker to sell the newspaper to publisher and ''United States Gazette'' associate editor [[Jesper Harding]]. After Harding acquired ''The Pennsylvania Inquirer'', it was briefly published as an afternoon paper before returning to its original morning format in January 1830. Under Harding, in 1829, ''The Inquirer'' moved from its original location between Front and Second Streets to between Second and Third Streets. When Harding bought and merged the ''Morning Journal'' in January 1830, the newspaper was moved to South Second Street. Ten years later ''The Inquirer'' again was moved, this time to its own building at the corner of Third Street and Carter's Alley. Harding expanded ''The Inquirer'''s content and the paper soon grew into a major Philadelphian newspaper. The expanded content included the addition of fiction, and in 1840, Harding gained rights to publish several [[Charles Dickens]] novels for which Dickens was paid a significant amount. At the time the common practice was to pay little or nothing for the rights of foreign authors' works.<ref name="Inqhistory"/> === Civil War to 1920s === Harding retired in 1859 and was succeeded by his son William White Harding, who had become a partner three years earlier. William Harding changed the name of the newspaper to its current name, ''The Philadelphia Inquirer''. Harding, in an attempt to increase [[Newspaper circulation|circulation]], cut the price of the paper, began delivery routes and had newsboys sell papers on the street. In 1859, circulation had been around 7,000 and by 1863 it had increased to 70,000. Part of the increase was due to the interest in news during the [[American Civil War]]. Twenty-five to thirty thousand copies of ''The Inquirer'' were often distributed to [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] soldiers during the war and several times the U.S. government asked ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' to issue a special edition specifically for soldiers. ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' supported the Union, but Harding wanted their coverage to remain neutral. [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] generals often sought copies of the paper, believing that the newspaper's war coverage was accurate.<ref name="Inqhistory"/> ''Inquirer'' journalist Uriah Hunt Painter was at the [[First Battle of Bull Run]] in 1861, a battle which ended in a Confederate victory. Initial reports from the government claimed a Union victory, but ''The Inquirer'' went with Painter's firsthand account. Crowds threatened to burn ''The Inquirer''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> building down because of the report. Another report, this time about [[George Meade|General George Meade]], angered Meade enough that he punished Edward Crapsey, the reporter who wrote it. Crapsey and other war correspondents later decided to attribute any victories of the [[Army of the Potomac]], Meade's command, to [[Ulysses S. Grant]], commander of the entire Union army. Any defeats by the Army of the Potomac would be attributed to Meade.<ref name="Inqhistory"/> During the war, ''The Inquirer'' continued to grow with more staff being added and another move into a larger building on Chestnut Street. However, after the war, economic hits combined with Harding becoming ill, hurt ''The Inquirer''. Despite Philadelphia's population growth, distribution fell from 70,000 during the Civil War to 5,000 in 1888. Beginning in 1889, the paper was sold to publisher James Elverson. To bring back the paper, Elverson moved ''The Inquirer'' to a new building with the latest printing technology and an increased staff. The "new" ''Philadelphia Inquirer'' premiered on [[March 1]] and was successful enough that Elverson started a Sunday edition of the paper. In 1890, in an attempt to increase circulation further, the price of ''The Inquirer'' was cut and the paper's size was increased, mostly with [[Classified advertising|classified advertisements]]. After five years ''The Inquirer'' had to move into a larger building on Market Street and later expanded into adjacent property.<ref name="Inqhistory"/> After Elverson's death in 1911, his son by his wife Sallie Duvall, James Elverson Jr. took charge. Under Elverson Jr., the newspaper continued to grow, eventually needing to move again. Elverson Jr. bought land at [[Broad Street (Philadelphia)|Broad]] and Callowhill Streets and built the eighteen-story Elverson Building, now known as the Inquirer Building. The first ''Inquirer'' issue printed at the building came out on [[July 13]], [[1925]]. Elverson Jr. died a few years later in 1929 and his sister, Eleanor Elverson, Mrs. [[Jules Patenotre des Noyers|Jules Patenôtre]], took over.<ref name="Inqhistory"/> === Annenberg years === {| align="right" class="wikitable" |+ '''Daily Circulation''' |- ! Year ! Weekday ! Sunday |- | 1936<ref name="Inqhistory" /> | 280,093 | 369,525 |- | 1938 | 345,422 | 1,035,871 |- | 1968 | 648,000 | 905,000 |- | 1984<ref name="Time">{{cite journal |quotes=no |first=William A. |last=Henry III |year=1984 |month=April 30 |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,951064-1,00.html |title=The Ten Best U.S. Dailies |journal=Time |pages=61}}</ref> | 533,000 | 995,000 |- | 1990<ref name="sinking">{{cite journal |quotes=no |first=Frank |last=Lewis |year=1999 |month=October 21–28 |title=Sinking Ship |journal=Philadelphia City Paper |url=http://www.citypaper.net/articles/102199/feat.cov.story1.shtml}}</ref> | 511,000 | 996,000 |- | 1999 | 402,000 | 802,000 |- | 2002<ref name="Pressa" /> | 373,892 | 747,969 |- | 2006<ref>{{cite journal2 |first=Joseph N. |last=DiStefano |year=2006 |month=May 9 |title=Shrinking only on paper |journal=The Philadelphia Inquirer}}</ref> | 350,457 | 705,965 |- | 2007<ref name="final2007">{{cite journal |quotes=no |first=Maria |last=Panaritis |year=2008 |month=March 01 |title=Audit reaffirms Inquirer's circulation as top gain |journal=The Philadelphia Inquirer |url=http://www.philly.com/philly/business/homepage/20080301_Audit_reduces_Inquirer_Sunday_circulation.html}}</ref> | 338,049 | 645,095 |} Eleanor Elverson Patenôtre ordered cuts throughout the paper, but was not really interested in managing it and ownership was soon put up for sale. [[Cyrus Hermann Kotzschmar Curtis|Cyrus Curtis]] and [[Curtis-Martin Newspapers]] Inc. bought the newspaper on [[March 5]], [[1930]].<ref name=curtis>{{cite news |last=Anonymous |title=Again, Curtis-Martin |work=Time Magazine |date=17 March 1930 |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,738833-1,00.html}}</ref> Curtis died a year later and his step son-in-law, [[John Charles Martin]], took charge. Martin merged ''The Inquirer'' with another paper, the ''[[Public Ledger (Philadelphia)|Public Ledger]]'', but the [[Great Depression]] hurt Curtis-Martin Newspapers and the company [[Default (finance)|defaulted]] in payments of maturity notes. Ownership returned to the Patenotre family and Elverson Corp. Charles A. Taylor was elected president of The Inquirer Co. and ran the paper until it was sold to [[Moses Annenberg|Moses L. Annenberg]] in 1936. During the period between Elverson Jr. and Annenberg ''The Inquirer'' stagnated, its editors ignoring most of the poor economic news of the Depression. The lack of growth allowed J. David Stern's newspaper, the ''Philadelphia Record'' to surpass ''The Inquirer'' in circulation and become the largest newspaper in Pennsylvania.<ref name="Annenberg">{{cite book |last=Ogden |first=Christopher |year=1999 |title=Legacy: A Biography of Moses and Walter Annenberg |publisher=Little, Brown and Company |location=New York |isbn=0-316-63379-8}}</ref><ref name="Pressa" /> Under Moses Annenberg, ''The Inquirer'' turned around. Annenberg added new features, increased staff and held promotions to increase circulation. By November, 1938 ''Inquirer''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> weekday circulation increased to 345,422 from 280,093 in 1936. During that same period the ''Record''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> circulation had dropped to 204,000 from 328,322. In 1939, Annenberg was charged with [[Tax avoidance and tax evasion|income tax evasion]]. Annenberg pleaded guilty before his trial and was sent to prison where he died in 1942. Upon Moses Annenberg's death, his son, [[Walter Annenberg]], took over. Not long after, in 1947, the ''Record'' went out of business and ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' became Philadelphia's only major daily morning newspaper. While still trailing behind Philadelphia's largest newspaper, the [[Philadelphia Bulletin|''Evening Bulletin'']], ''The Inquirer'' continued to be profitable. In 1948, Walter Annenberg expanded the Inquirer Building with a new structure that housed new [[printing press]]es for ''The Inquirer'' and, during the 1950s and 60s, Annenberg's other properties, [[Seventeen (magazine)|''Seventeen'']] and ''[[TV Guide]]''.<ref name="Inqhistory" /> In 1957 Annenberg bought the ''[[Philadelphia Daily News]]'' and combined the ''Daily News''<nowiki>'</nowiki> facilities with ''The Inquirer''<nowiki>'s</nowiki>. A thirty-eight day strike in 1958 hurt ''The Inquirer'' and, after the strike ended, so many reporters had accepted buyout offers and left that the [[newsroom]] was noticeably empty. Furthermore, many current reporters had been copyclerks just before the strike and had little experience. One of the few star reporters of the 1950s and 60s was investigative reporter Harry Karafin. During his career Harry Karafin exposed corruption and other exclusive stories for ''The Inquirer'', but also [[Extortion|extorted]] money out of individuals and organizations. Karafin would claim he had harmful information and would demand money in exchange for the information not being made public.<ref name="Annenberg" /> This went on from the late 1950s into the early 60s before Karafin was exposed in 1967 and convicted of extortion a year later. By the end of the 1960s, circulation and advertising revenue was in decline and the newspaper had become, according to [[Time (magazine)|''Time'' magazine]], "uncreative and undistinguished."<ref name="Time" /> === Corporate ownership === [[Image:Inquirerbldgfull.jpg|left|thumbnail|180px|The Inquirer Building on North Broad Street.]] In 1969 Annenberg was offered US$55 Million for ''The Inquirer'' by [[Samuel Irving Newhouse, Sr.|Samuel Newhouse]], but having earlier promised [[John S. Knight]] the right of first refusal of any sale offer, Annenberg sold it to Knight instead. ''The Inquirer'', along with the ''Philadelphia Daily News'', became part of Knight Newspapers and its new subsidiary, Philadelphia Newspapers Inc. Five years later, Knight Newspapers merged with Ridder Publications to form [[Knight Ridder]]. When ''The Inquirer'' was bought, it was understaffed, its equipment was outdated, many of its employees were underskilled and the paper trailed its chief competitor, the ''Evening Bulletin'', in weekday circulation. However, Eugene L. Roberts Jr., who became ''The Inquirer''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> executive editor in 1972, turned the newspaper around. Between 1975 and 1990 ''The Inquirer'' won seventeen [[Pulitzer Prize|Pulitzers]], six consecutively between 1975 and 1980, and more journalism awards than any other newspaper in the United States. ''Time'' magazine chose ''The Inquirer'' as one of the ten best daily newspapers in the United States, calling Roberts' changes to the paper, "one of the most remarkable turnarounds, in quality and profitability, in the history of American journalism."<ref name="Time" /> By July 1980 ''The Inquirer'' had become the most circulated paper in Philadelphia, forcing the ''Evening Bulletin'' to shut down two years later. ''The Inquirer''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> success was not without hardships. Between 1970 and 1985 the newspaper experienced eleven strikes, the longest lasting forty-six days in 1985. ''The Inquirer'' was also criticized for covering "[[Karachi]] better than [[Kensington, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Kensington]]".<ref name="Time" /> This did not stop the paper's growth during the 1980s, and when the ''Evening Bulletin'' shut down, ''The Inquirer'' hired seventeen ''Bulletin'' reporters and doubled its bureaus to attract former ''Bulletin'' readers.<ref name="Columbia">{{cite journal |quotes=no |first=Michael |last=Shapiro |year=2006 |month=March/April |title=Looking for Light |journal=Columbia Journalism Review |url=http://www.cjr.org/issues/2006/2/shapiro.asp}}</ref> By 1989 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc.'s editorial staff reached a peak of 721 employees. The 1990s saw gradually dropping circulation and advertisement revenue for ''The Inquirer''. The decline was part of a nationwide trend, but the effects were exacerbated by, according to dissatisfied ''Inquirer'' employees, the paper's resisting changes that many other daily newspapers implemented to keep readers and pressure from Knight Ridder to cut costs.<ref name="sinking" /> During most of Roberts' time as editor, Knight Ridder allowed him a great deal of freedom in running the newspaper. However, in the late 1980s, Knight Ridder had become concerned about ''The Inquirer''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> profitability and took a more active role in its operations. Knight Ridder pressured ''The Inquirer'' to expand into the more profitable suburbs, while at the same time cutting staff and coverage of national and international stories.<ref name="Columbia" /> Staff cuts continued until Knight Ridder was bought in 2006, with some of ''The Inquirer''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> best reporters accepting buyouts and leaving for other newspapers such as ''[[The New York Times]]'' and ''[[The Washington Post]]''. By the late 1990s, all of the high level editors who had worked with Eugene Roberts in the 1970s and 80s had left, none at normal retirement age. Since the 1980s, the paper has won just one Pulitzer, a 1997 award for "Explanatory Journalism."<ref>{{cite book |last=Merritt |first=Davis |authorlink=W. Davis Merritt |year=2005 |title=Knightfall: Knight Ridder and How the Erosion of Newspaper Journalism is Putting Democracy at Risk |publisher=AMACOM |location=New York |id=ISBN 0-8144-0854-0}}</ref> In 1998 ''Inquirer'' reporter Ralph Cipriano filed a [[Slander and libel|libel]] suit against Knight Ridder, ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' and ''Inquirer'' editor Robert Rosenthal over comments Rosenthal made about Cipriano to ''The Washington Post''. Cipriano had claimed that it was difficult reporting negative stories in ''The Inquirer'' about the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia]]<ref>{{cite journal |quotes=no |first=Frank |last=Lewis |year=2001 |month=January 11–18 |title=So Sorry |journal=Philadelphia City Paper |url=http://www.citypaper.net/articles/011101/cb.om.sorry.shtml}}</ref> and Rosenthal later claimed that Cipriano had "a very strong personal point of view and an agenda...He could never prove [his stories]."<ref>{{cite journal |quotes=no |first=Frank |last=Lewis |year=1998 |month=June 18–25 |title=Bob and Weave |journal=Philadelphia City Paper |url=http://www.citypaper.net/articles/061898/om.bob.shtml}}</ref> The suit was later settled out of court in 2001. Knight Ridder was bought by rival [[The McClatchy Company]] in June 2006. ''The Inquirer'' and the ''Philadelphia Daily News'' were among the twelve less-profitable Knight Ridder newspapers that McClatchy put up for sale when the deal was announced in March.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4802304.stm |title=Knight Ridder bought for $4.5bn |publisher=BBC News |date=[[March 13]] [[2006]] |accessdate=2006-05-28}}</ref> On [[June 29]], [[2006]] ''The Inquirer'' and ''Daily News'' were sold to [[Philadelphia Media Holdings]] LLC, a group of Philadelphian area business people, including [[Brian Tierney|Brian P. Tierney]], Philadelphia Media's chief executive. The new owners planned to spend US$5 million on advertisements and promotions to increase ''The Inquirer''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> profile and readership.<ref name="job1">{{cite journal |quotes=no |first=Joseph N. |last=DiStefano |year=2006 |month=June 30 |title=Job 1 for new owners: Raise papers' profile |journal=The Philadelphia Inquirer}}</ref> In the months following Philadelphia Media Holding's acquisition, ''The Inquirer'' has seen larger than expected revenue losses, mostly from national advertising. The revenue losses caused management to cut seventy-one editorial staff members in the first month of 2007.<ref>{{cite journal |quotes=no |first=Joann |last=Loviglio |year=2007 |month=January 3 |title=Philadelphia Inquirer lays off 71 people |journal=[[BusinessWeek]]}}</ref> On [[August 21]], [[2007]] Philadelphia Media Holdings announced that it was selling The Inquirer Building. Brian Tierney said they have planned to sell the half empty building since Philadelphia Media Holdings bought ''The Inquirer'' and ''Daily News'' and that a new location has not been determined.<ref>{{cite journal |quotes=no |first=Bob |last=Fernandez |year=2007 |month=[August 21 |title=Inquirer Building to be sold |journal=The Philadelphia Inquirer}}</ref> == Politics == [[Image:Inquirerbldg sign.jpg|right|thumbnail|230px|The sign above the entrance to The Inquirer Building]] John Norvell left the ''Aurora & Gazette'' and his job as editor because he disagreed with what he felt was the newspaper's editorial approval of a movement towards a European class system. When Norvell and John Walker founded ''The Inquirer'' they wanted the newspaper to represent all people and not just the higher classes. The newly launched newspaper supported [[Jeffersonian democracy]] and President Andrew Jackson, and it declared support for the right of the minority's opinion to be heard.<ref name="Inqhistory" /> A [[legend]] about the founding of ''The Inquirer'' states that Norvell said, "There could be no better name than ''The Inquirer''. In a free state, there should always be an inquirer asking on behalf of the people: 'Why was this done? Why is that necessary work not done? Why is that man put forward? Why is that law proposed? Why? Why? Why?'"<ref>{{cite journal |quotes=no |last=Shapiro |first=Howie |date=[[May 23]] [[2006]] |title=Asking 'Why?' since 1829 |publisher=''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' |accessdate=2006-07-10}}</ref> When Norvell and Walker sold their newspaper to Jesper Harding, Harding kept the paper close to the founder's politics and backed the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]. However, disagreeing with Andrew Jackson's handling of the [[Second Bank of the United States]] he began supporting the anti-Jackson wing of the Democrats. During the [[United States presidential election, 1836|1836 Presidential election]] Harding supported the [[Whig Party (United States)|Whig party]] candidate over the Democratic candidate and afterwards ''The Inquirer'' became known for its support of Whig candidates.<ref name="Pressa" /> Before the American Civil War began, ''The Inquirer'' supported the preservation of the Union, and was critical of the [[Abolitionism|antislavery movement]].<ref name="phillyhistory">{{cite book |author=Weigley RF et al (eds): |title=Philadelphia: A 300-Year History |publisher=[[W. W. Norton & Company]] |date=1982 |location=New York and London |id=ISBN 0-393-01610-2 |pages=pages 388,404}}</ref> Once the war began ''The Inquirer'' supported the Union and maintained an independent reporting of the war.<ref name="Inqhistory" /> At first ''The Inquirer''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> editors were against [[Emancipation Proclamation|emancipation of the slaves]], but after setbacks by the Union army ''The Inquirer'' started advocating a more aggressive approach to the war and a different direction on slavery.<ref name="phillyhistory" /> === Republican Bible === Under James Elverson, ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' declared, "the new ''Inquirer'' shall be in all respects a complete, enterprising, progressive newspaper, moved by all the wide-awake spirit of the time and behind in nothing of interest to people who want to know what is going on every day and everywhere...steadily and vigorously [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] in its political policy, but just and fair in its treatment of all questions..."<ref name="Inqhistory" /> During the [[1900 Republican National Convention|1900 Republican convention]] in Philadelphia, Elverson set up a large electric banner over Broad Street that declared "Philadelphia Inquirer – Largest Republican Circulation in the World."<ref name="Pressa" /> At the turn of the 20th century the newspaper began editorial campaigns to improve Philadelphia, including the paving of major streets and stopping a corrupt plan to buy the polluted [[Schuylkill Canal]] for drinking water. The newspaper continued similar politics under Elverson Jr., and by the 1920s ''The Inquirer'' became known as the "Republican Bible of Pennsylvania".<ref name="Inqhistory" /> Between 1929 and 1936, while under Patenotre and Curtis-Martin, ''The Inquirer'' continued to support the Republican party and [[Herbert Hoover|President Herbert Hoover]], noticeably by not reporting on the news of the Great Depression. Statistics on unemployment or business closings were ignored, even when they came from the government. Information about Philadelphia banks closing was relegated to the back of the financial section. When Moses Annenberg took over ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'', he announced that the paper would "continue to uphold the principles of the Republican Party," but in a meeting with newspaper editors shortly after, he proposed that the paper go independent and support [[Franklin D. Roosevelt|President Franklin D. Roosevelt]] in the upcoming election. The editors rejected this idea and the paper remained Republican. In the late 1930s Annenberg disagreed with Roosevelt's [[New Deal]] programs and his handling of strikes. This prompted editorials criticizing the policies of Roosevelt and his supporters. He strongly opposed Democratic Pennsylvania governor [[George Howard Earle III|George Earle]] and had ''The Inquirer'' support the Republican candidates in the 1938 Pennsylvania state elections. When Republicans swept the election there was a celebration at ''The Inquirer'' headquarters with red flares and the firing of cannons. The attacks against Democrats and the support given towards Republicans caught the attention of the Roosevelt administration. Annenberg had turned ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' into a major challenger to its chief competitor the Democratic ''Record'', and after Annenberg began focusing on politics, Democratic politicians often attacked Annenberg and accused him of illegal business practices. In 1939 Annenberg was charged with income tax evasion, pled guilty before the trial, and was sent to prison for three years. Annenberg's friends and his son, Walter, claimed that the whole trial was politically motivated and despite Annenberg actually being guilty, they claimed his sentence was harsher then it should have been.<ref name="Annenberg" /> === Independent === When the ''Record'' shut down in 1947 ''The Inquirer'' announced that it was now an independent newspaper and, frustrated with corruption in Philadelphia, supported Democratic candidates in the 1951 election.<ref name="Inqhistory" /> While Walter Annenberg had made ''The Inquirer'' independent he did use the paper to attack people he disliked. Sometimes when a person or group angered Annenberg, they were [[blacklist]]ed and not mentioned anywhere within ''The Inquirer''. People on the blacklist were even [[airbrush]]ed out of images. People who were on the list at one point included [[Nicholas Katzenbach]], [[Ralph Nader]], [[Zsa Zsa Gabor]], and the basketball team the [[Golden State Warriors|Philadelphia Warriors]], who were not mentioned for an entire season. In 1966 Walter Annenberg used ''The Inquirer'' to attack Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate [[Milton Shapp]]. During a press conference an ''Inquirer'' reporter asked Shapp if he had ever been a patient in a mental hospital; having never been one Shapp said no. The next day's headline in ''The Inquirer'' read "Shapp Denies Ever having been in a Mental Home." Shapp attributed his loss of the election to Annenberg's attack campaign.<ref name="Annenberg" /> Annenberg was a backer and friend of [[Richard Nixon]]. In the [[United States presidential election, 1952|1952 presidential election]] critics later claimed Annenberg had ''The Inquirer'' look the other way when covering accusations Nixon was misappropriating funds. Later, to avoid accusations of political bias, Annenberg had ''The Inquirer'' use only [[news agency]] sources such as the [[Associated Press]] for the 1960 and 1968 presidential elections.<ref name="Annenberg" /> When Nixon was elected president in 1968, Annenberg was appointed the U.S. ambassador to the [[Court of St. James's]]. A year later when Annenberg sold the newspaper to Knight Newspapers, a part of the deal stipulated that Annenberg's name would appear as Editor and Publisher Emeritus in ''The Inquirer''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> [[Masthead (publishing)|masthead]]. In 1970 Annenberg, already unhappy with changes in the newspaper, had his name removed from the paper after a critical editorial on Richard Nixon appeared.<ref name="Inqhistory" /> Under Knight Ridder, ''The Inquirer'' continued to be editorially independent. However, [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]] [[blog]]s and commentators have labeled ''The Inquirer'' [[Liberalism in the United States|left leaning]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mediamatters.org/items/200602160010 |title=In List of "Left-Wing Papers," O'Reilly Included Five that Endorsed Bush for President |publisher=Media Matters For America |accessdate=2006-07-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Smerconish |first=Michael |title=Meet the New Boss, Same as the Old Boss? |publisher=''Philadelphia Daily News'' |year=2006 |month=July 13 |accessdate=2006-08-07}}</ref> Throughout the 1990s and into the 21st century, groups supportive of [[Israel]] such as the [[Zionist Organization of America]] often accused ''The Inquirer'' of being [[Anti-Zionism|anti-Israel]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://zena.secureforum.com/Znet/zmag/articles/barherman.htm |title=Edward Herman Beyond Hypocrisy: Decoding the News |author=Interviewed by David Barsamian |date=[[July 14]] [[1993]] |accessdate=2006-07-09}}</ref> At the same time [[Edward S. Herman]], a [[University of Pennsylvania]] media analyst, has written many articles accusing ''The Inquirer'' of caving into conservative pressure and including a conservative slant in the paper's reporting and editorial page.<ref>{{cite web |last=Herman |first=Edward |authorlink=Edward S. Herman |url=http://musictravel.free.fr/political/political16.htm |title=The Philadelphia Inquirer's New "Right Stuff" Program |accessdate=2006-07-09}}</ref> In 2006, ''The Inquirer'' became one of the only major United States newspapers to print one of the [[Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy|''Jyllands-Posten'' Muhammad cartoons]]. Afterwards, protesting the printing of the cartoon, Muslims picketed outside The Inquirer Building.<ref>{{cite journal |quotes=no |year=2006 |month=[[13 February]] |title=Muslims Protest Philadelphia Newspaper's Publishing of Cartoon |journal=Associated Press |url=http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/news.aspx?id=16470}}</ref> When Philadelphia Media Holdings L.L.C. bought the paper in 2006, Brian P. Tierney and the business people behind the group signed a pledge promising that they would not influence the content of the paper. Brian P. Tierney, a Republican activist who represented many local groups in the Philadelphia area, criticized ''The Inquirer'' in the past on behalf of his clients. One of Tierney's clients was the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia which he represented during the Cipriano affair. The group includes other local business people including Bruce E. Toll, vice chairman of [[Toll Brothers|Toll Brothers Inc.]] Tierney says the group is aware that the fastest way to ruin their investment is to threaten the paper's [[editorial independence]].<ref>{{cite journal |quotes=no |first=Ken |last=Dilanian |year=2006 |month=May 24 |title=Frequent critic of media takes newspapers' helm |journal=The Philadelphia Inquirer}}</ref> == Production == ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' is headquartered in The Inquirer Building in [[Center City, Philadelphia|Center City Philadelphia]] along with ''The Philadelphia Daily News''. ''The Inquirer'' is printed daily, seven days a week at the Schuylkill Printing Plant in [[Conshohocken, Pennsylvania]]. According to the [[Audit Bureau of Circulations]], ''The Inquirer'' is the sixteenth most circulated weekday newspaper in the United States. The Sunday edition's circulation is around twice as large as the average weekday circulation.<ref name="circulation" /> ''The Inquirer''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> publisher is Brian Tierney. Tierney replaced Joseph Natoli who resigned on [[August 1]], [[2006]].<ref>{{cite journal |quotes=no |first=Joseph N. |last=DiStefano |year=2006 |month=August 02 |title=Tierney to fill role of Inquirer publisher |journal=The Philadelphia Inquirer}}</ref> ''The Inquirer''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> editor and executive vice-president is William Marimow. Marimow, a former Pulitzer winning ''Inquirer'' reporter, became ''The Inquirer''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> editor in November 2006, replacing previous editor Amanda Bennett.<ref>{{cite journal |quotes=no |first=Joseph N. |last=DiStefano |year=2006 |month=November 8 |title=Bennett steps down as Inquirer editor; Marimow to take over |journal=The Philadelphia Inquirer}}</ref> ''The Inquirer'' is operated by Philadelphia Newspaper LLC which replaced Philadelphia Newspapers Inc. when Philadelphia Media Holdings LLC bought PNI in 2006.<ref name="job1" /> Since 1995, ''The Inquirer'' has been available on the internet at Philly.com, which, along with the ''Philadelphia Daily News'' and several other regional publications, is part of Philadelphia Newspaper LLC ''The Inquirer''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> local coverage covers Philadelphia, [[List of counties in Pennsylvania|southeastern Pennsylvania]], and [[List of counties in New Jersey|southern New Jersey]]. In Pennsylvania, ''The Inquirer'' maintains bureaus in [[Conshohocken, Pennsylvania|Conshohocken]]; [[Doylestown, Pennsylvania|Doylestown]]; [[Media, Pennsylvania|Media]]; [[West Chester, Pennsylvania|West Chester]]; and [[Norristown, Pennsylvania|Norristown]] while in New Jersey it has bureaus in [[Cherry Hill Township, New Jersey|Cherry Hill]] and [[Margate City, New Jersey|Margate]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pnionline.com/pnipublications/regionalpublications/phila_inquirer.asp |title=Philadelphia Inquirer |publisher=Philadelphia Media Holdings |accessdate=2007-12-30}}</ref> In 2004 ''The Inquirer'' partnered with Philadelphia's [[NBC]] station [[WCAU (TV)|WCAU]]. The partnership includes using WCAU's weather forecast.<ref>{{cite journal |quotes=no |first=Eva |last=Blackwell |year=2005 |month=August 1 |title=NBC 10 And Inquirer Announce News Partnership |journal=NBC10.com |url=http://www.nbc10.com/station/3674064/detail.html}}</ref> {| class="collapsible wikitable collapsed" style="clear: none; font-size: 95%; margin: 0 auto; padding: 0 auto; width: 100%;" ! align="center" colspan="5" | Pulitzer Prizes awarded to the ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' |- ! Year ! Award ! Person(s) ! Work |- | [[1975 Pulitzer Prize|1975]] | [[Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting|National Reporting]] | [[Donald Barlett]] and [[James Steele (journalist)|James B. Steele]] | "Auditing the [[Internal Revenue Service]]" series |- | [[1976 Pulitzer Prize|1976]] | [[Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning|Editorial Cartooning]] | [[Tony Auth]] | "O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain" |- | [[1977 Pulitzer Prize|1977]] | [[Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting|Local Investigative Specialized Reporting]] | Acel Moore and [[Wendell Rawls, Jr.]] | Report on the conditions at the Fairview State Hospital for the mentally ill |- | [[1978 Pulitzer Prize|1978]] | [[Pulitzer Prize for Public Service|Public Service]] | ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' | A series of articles on the abuse of power by Philadelphia police |- | [[1979 Pulitzer Prize|1979]] | [[Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting|International Reporting]] | [[Richard Ben Cramer]] | Reports from the Middle East |- | [[1980 Pulitzer Prize|1980]] | Local General or Spot News Reporting | Staff of ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' | Coverage of the [[Three Mile Island accident]] |- | [[1985 Pulitzer Prize|1985]] | [[Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting|Investigative Reporting]] | William K. Marimow | Expose on the Philadelphia police K-9 unit |- | [[1985 Pulitzer Prize|1985]] | [[Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography|Feature Photography]] | Larry C. Price | Series of photographs from [[Angola]] and [[El Salvador]] |- | [[1986 Pulitzer Prize|1986]] | [[Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting|National Reporting]] | Arthur Howe | Report on deficiencies in IRS processing of tax returns-reporting |- | [[1986 Pulitzer Prize|1986]] | [[Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography|Feature Photography]] | Tom Gralish | Series of photographs on the homeless in Philadelphia |- | [[1987 Pulitzer Prize|1987]] | [[Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting|Investigative Reporting]] | John Woestendiek | Prison [[beat reporting]] |- | [[1987 Pulitzer Prize|1987]] | [[Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting|Investigative Reporting]] | Daniel R. Biddle, [[H. G. Bissinger]] and Fredric N. Tulsky | "Disorder in the Court" |- | [[1987 Pulitzer Prize|1987]] | [[Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing|Feature Writing]] | Steve Twomey | Profile of life aboard an aircraft carrier |- | [[1988 Pulitzer Prize|1988]] | [[Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting|National Reporting]] | Tim Weiner | Series on a secret Pentagon budget used for defense research and an arms buildup |- | [[1989 Pulitzer Prize|1989]] | [[Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting|National Reporting]] | [[Donald Barlett]] and [[James Steele (journalist)|James B. Steele]] | Investigation into the [[Tax Reform Act of 1986]] |- | [[1989 Pulitzer Prize|1989]] | [[Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing|Feature Writing]] | David Zucchino | "Being Black in South Africa" |- | [[1990 Pulitzer Prize|1990]] | [[Pulitzer Prize for Public Service|Public Service]] | Gilbert M. Gaul | Report on the American blood industry |- | [[1997 Pulitzer Prize|1997]] | [[Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting|Explanatory Journalism]] | [[Michael Vitez]], April Saul and Ron Cortes | Series on the choices of the critically-ill |} == See also == {{portalpar|Philadelphia|Libertybell alone small.jpg}} * [[:Category:Philadelphia Inquirer people|''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' people]] * [[Gold Seal Novel]] * [[List of newspapers in Pennsylvania]] * [[List of newspapers in the United States by circulation]] * [[Media of Philadelphia]] == References == {{Reflist|2}} == External links == * [http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/ ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' Online] * [http://www.pnionline.com/ Philadelphia Media Holdings website] {{featured article}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Philadelphia Inquirer, The}} [[Category:Newspapers in Philadelphia]] [[Category:Publications established in 1829]] [[Category:Pulitzer Prize winning newspapers]] [[de:The Philadelphia Inquirer]] [[fr:The Philadelphia Inquirer]] [[ko:필라델피아 인콰이어러]] [[pl:The Philadelphia Inquirer]]