BY TOM HESTER SR.
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
In an unusual move, New Jersey Democratic Party leader George Norcross, who is one of the new owners of Philadelphia’s two daily newspapers, reached out to New Jersey journalists Thursday to pledge he will not interfere with editorial decisions or news coverage.
Norcross is part of a group of businessmen who purchased The Inquirer and the Daily News on Monday for a total cost of $65 million with the idea of turning the financially-struggling newspapers around. The group is the fifth owners of the papers in six years. The group also purchased Philly.com, the Philadelphia region’s most popular online news service.
“Our ownership group – comprised of leading business and civic leaders from the region including Lewis Katz, H.F. “Gerry” Lenfest, Bill Hankowsky, Dr. Kris Singh, and my friend and partner Joe Buckelew – is very excited about the prospect of owning the company and turning around its fortunes in the years ahead,” Norcross wrote in an email to journalists. “We think that it can become the dominant regional media company in America, and we’re looking forward enthusiastically to the challenge.
“Each of us has pledged not to interfere in new decisions or news operations at either newspaper or Philly.com,” Norcross said. “Our intention is to own the company, not to run it. It’s a pledge that I intend to honor.
