2008 Woodie Awards
Video related to this article is available below.Issue date: 2/13/08 Section: News
View from inside the world of journalism
Shawn Aiken
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Tierney, publisher and CEO of The Philadelphia Inquirer and CEO of the Philadelphia Daily News, addressed a group of 36 students, faculty and alumni at the St. Anthony Hall speaking series in St. Anthony Hall, also known as Delta Psi fraternity.
The event was co-sponsored by the fraternity and The Daily Pennsylvanian.
Tierney spoke confidently about the newspaper industry, in spite of the constant threats to its survival. He also expressed concern without fear about the future of the Inquirer and the Daily News.
"It's a tremendous business, and it's profitable," said Tierney, who has also received a law degree from Widener University, "What it all comes down to is quality journalism," he said.
The St. Anthony Hall speaking series is designed to put members of the Penn community face-to-face with prominent individuals, while raising awareness on a variety of relevant topics. Last night's event was the first such one since 2004, when Ron F. Kennedy addressed the fraternity.
Tierney was part of St. Anthony Hall during his time at Penn.
College junior Ian Grajewski, president of St. Anthony Hall, introduced Tierney to the audience before his presentation, and Tierney provided the small crowd with an in-depth speech about print journalism.
"[Philadelphia Media Holdings is] number one in the country in terms of circulation growth and number two in the country in advertising and sales performance," Tierney said. "Today 900,000 people physically picked up The Philadelphia Inquirer and another 500,000 people physically picked up the Daily News," he said.
After the speech, Tierney opened the floor for questions, and he answered each question with accuracy and aplomb.
"He was candid, honest and conversational," Grajewski said. "I thought it was a great success and we're going to try to bring the series back as a college tradition."
College senior Will Menkes expressed excitement about finally meeting the man he's heard so much about during his time at Penn.
"I've heard his story second-hand, but tonight I got the opportunity to get it from the horse's mouth," he said.
And while Tierney kept the room's full attention, he also kept to his statements about the future of the newspaper industry.
"Newspaper journalists have so much more credibility than television journalists because we really talk about the facts," he said. "I think the real issue is how and where do we want to compete," he added.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 6
Tierney's not a journalist
posted 2/13/08 @ 7:45 AM EST
He's not an "accomplished journalist." He made his mark in the advertising world, running a public relations firm. Penn emeritus professor Ed Hermann likes to refer to him as "ad-man Brian Tierney. (Continued…)
typical Penn democrat
posted 2/13/08 @ 11:59 AM EST
Tierney is an accomplished enough journalist to lead the only major paper in the nation to actually see subscription increases in the past year and a half
Jon Bekken
posted 2/13/08 @ 12:42 PM EST
A publisher is not a journalist. Tierney became publisher not as a result of his accomplishments in the field of newspapering (in which he had not worked) or public relations (where he had substantial accomplishments) but because he headed up a group with the money to buy the paper. (Continued…)
Patrick D.Hazard
posted 2/14/08 @ 9:05 AM EST
As a former Penn faculty member (American Civilization, 1957-61. Annenberg School,59-61) I was frankly disappointed at the intellectual level of your reporting Brian Tierney's visit. (Continued…)
Anonymous
posted 2/15/08 @ 5:44 PM EST
Beyond the issue of a publisher not being a journalist, this article said nothing of what Tierney said. And how did the reporter know whether whatever it is he said was candid, accurate or whatever. (Continued…)
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