View source for The Philadelphia Inquirer

{{short description|American daily newspaper founded in 1829}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox newspaper
| name               = The Philadelphia Inquirer
| logo               = [[File:Inquirer Nameplate Black.svg|frameless|class=skin-invert]]
| image              = Philadelphia_Inquirer_November_8_2023_pgA1.jpg
| image_alt          = November 8, 2023 front page
| caption            = The front page of ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' on November 8, 2023
| type               = [[Daily newspaper]]
| format             = [[Broadsheet]]
| owner              = [[The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC]]
| founders           = {{ubl|John R. Walker|[[John Norvell]]}}
| publisher          = Elizabeth H. Hughes
| editor             = Gabriel Escobar
| custom_label       = Deputy managing editors
| custom_data        = {{ubl|Brian Leighton|[[James Neff]]|Ross Maghielse|Molly Eichel|Ariella Cohen}}
| managing_editor    = {{ubl|Charlotte Sutton|Patrick Kerkstra|Richard G. Jones|Michael Huang|Kate Dailey|Danese Kenon}}
| founded            = {{start date and age|1829|6|1}} (as ''The Pennsylvania Inquirer'')
| headquarters       = 100 S. Independence Mall West Suite 600<br />[[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| publishing_country = United States
| circulation        = 52,000 print <br />
118,000 digital
| circulation_date   = 2025
| circulation_ref    = <ref>{{Cite web |last=Sciaudone |first=Christiana |date=2024-11-25 |title=Philly Inquirer's Subscriptions More than Double; What's the Deal? |url=https://www.amediaoperator.com/analysis/philly-inquirers-subscriptions-more-than-double-whats-the-deal/#memberful_overlay |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=A Media Operator |language=en-US}}</ref>
| sister_newspapers  = ''[[Philadelphia Daily News]]''
| ISSN               = 0885-6613
| oclc               = 45211992
| website            = {{official URL}}
}}

'''''The Philadelphia Inquirer''''', often referred to simply as '''''The Inquirer''''', is a daily newspaper headquartered in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]]. Founded on June 1, 1829, ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' is the third-longest continuously operating daily newspaper in the United States.<ref>[https://www.pentagram.com/work/the-philadelphia-inquirer/story ''The Philadelphia Inquirer''] at Pentagram.com</ref>

The newspaper has the largest circulation of any newspaper in both Pennsylvania and the [[Philadelphia metropolitan area]], which includes Philadelphia and its surrounding communities in southeastern Pennsylvania, [[South Jersey]], northern [[Delaware]], and the northern [[Eastern Shore of Maryland]]. As of 2020, the newspaper has the 17th-largest circulation of any newspaper in the United States<ref>{{Cite web|title=Top 100 Newspapers in the United States|url=https://www.infoplease.com/culture-entertainment/journalism-literature/top-100-newspapers-united-states|access-date=February 15, 2021|website=www.infoplease.com|language=en}}</ref> As of 2020, ''The Inquirer'' has won 20 [[Pulitzer Prize]]s.<ref name=circulation>{{cite web|url=http://www.burrellesluce.com/sites/default/files/Top_Media_June_2013_FNL%281%29.pdf|title=2013 Top Media Outlets: Newspapers, Blogs, Consumer Magazines, Social Networks, Websites, and Broadcast Media|publisher=BurrellesLuce|date=June 2013|access-date=April 30, 2015}}</ref>

Several decades after its 1829 founding, ''The Inquirer'' began emerging as one of the nation's major newspapers during the [[American Civil War]]. Its circulation dropped after the Civil War's conclusion, but it rose again by the end of the 19th century. Originally supportive of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], ''The Inquirer''{{'}}s political orientation eventually shifted toward the [[Whig Party (United States)|Whig Party]] and then the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] before stating, in the mid-20th century, that it was politically independent.

By the end of the 1960s, ''The Inquirer'' trailed its chief competitor, ''[[Philadelphia Bulletin|The Philadelphia Evening Bulletin]]'' in circulation, and was lacking modern facilities and experienced staff. In the 1970s, however, following its acquisition by [[Knight Ridder]] and the hiring of new editors, it once again emerged as one of the nation's most prominent and influential newspapers.

''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' is owned by [[The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC]], which merged the ''[[Philadelphia Daily News]]'', the city's daily [[Tabloid (newspaper format)|tabloid]], into ''The Inquirer'' in 2019. As of 2023, the newspaper's publisher and chief executive officer is Elizabeth H. Hughes, and its editor is Gabriel Escobar.<ref name="inquirer.com">{{Cite web|title=About Us {{!}} The Philadelphia Inquirer|url=https://www.inquirer.com/about/|access-date=July 2, 2020|website=The Philadelphia Inquirer|language=en-US}}</ref>

==History==
===19th century===
[[File:Inquirerbldgfull.jpg|thumb|The [[Inquirer Building]] at 400 North [[Broad Street (Philadelphia)|Broad Street]] in [[Logan Square, Philadelphia|Logan Square]], formerly known as the Elverson Building, was home to the newspaper from 1924 to 2011.]]
''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' was founded June 1, 1829, by printer John R. Walker and [[John Norvell]], former editor of Philadelphia's largest newspaper, the ''Aurora & Gazette''. An [[editorial]] in 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 |website=The Philadelphia Inquirer |access-date=May 27, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070219044935/http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/6135296.htm?1c |archive-date=February 19, 2007}}</ref>

''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' is the third-oldest surviving daily newspaper in the United States. In 1962, an ''Inquirer''-commissioned historian traced ''The Inquirer'' to [[John Dunlap]]'s ''[[Pennsylvania Packet|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">{{cite web |last=Wilkinson |first=Gerry |title=The History of the Philadelphia Inquirer |url=http://www.phillyppa.com/inquirer.html |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521003738/https://www.phillyppa.com/inquirer.html |archive-date=May 21, 2023 |access-date=May 27, 2006 |agency=Philadelphia Press Association}}</ref> The ''Public Ledger'', in turn, merged with ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' in the 1930s.

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"/> If the lineage of ''The Packet'' and ''The North American'' is counted in the newspaper's history, ''The Inquirer'' would currently be the longest continuously published newspaper in the nation.

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]].  In 1829, ''The Inquirer'' moved from its original location between [[Front Street (Philadelphia)|Front]] and 2nd streets to between 2nd and 3rd streets. After Harding acquired ''The Pennsylvania Inquirer'', it was briefly published as an afternoon paper before returning to its original morning format in January 1830.

When Harding bought and merged the ''Morning Journal'' in January 1830, the newspaper was moved to South Second Street. Ten years later, ''The Inquirer'' moved again, this time to its own building at the corner of Third Street and Carter's Alley.

Harding expanded ''The Inquirer'''s content, and the newspaper soon grew into a major Philadelphia newspaper. The expanded content included the addition of fiction. In 1840, Harding gained rights to publish several [[Charles Dickens]] novels for which Dickens was paid a significant sum, even though the common practice was to pay little or nothing for the rights of foreign authors' works.<ref name="Inqhistory"/>

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''. In an attempt to increase [[Newspaper circulation|circulation]], Harding cut the price of the paper, began delivery routes and had newsboys sell papers on the street.

====American Civil War====
In 1859, circulation had been around 7,000; by 1863 it had increased to 70,000. Part of the increase was due to the interest in news during the [[American Civil War]]. An estimated 25,000 to 30,000 copies of ''The Inquirer'' were distributed to [[Union Army]] soldiers during the war and several times the [[Federal government of the United States|U.S. government]] asked ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' to publish special editions for its 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"/>

During the Civil War, ''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''{{'s}} building down because of the report. Another report about [[George Meade|General George Meade]] angered him enough that he punished Edward Crapsey, the reporter who wrote it. Crapsey and other Civil War correspondents at the newspaper later decided to attribute any victories of the [[Army of the Potomac]], Meade's command, to [[Ulysses S. Grant]], commander of the Union Army. Any defeats, conversely, were attributed to Meade.<ref name="Inqhistory"/>

During the Civil War, ''The Inquirer'' continued to grow with more staff being added and another move into a larger building on [[Chestnut Street (Philadelphia)|Chestnut Street]]. Following the Civil War, ''The Inquirer'' faced financial challenges, and Harding became ill. Despite Philadelphia's population growth, distribution fell from 70,000 during the Civil War to 5,000 in 1888.

In 1889, the newspaper was sold to publisher James Elverson, who moved ''The Inquirer'' to a new building that included the latest printing technology. Elverson also increased the newspaper's staff. A new ''Inquirer'' premiered on March 1, 1889, and was successful enough that Elverson launched a Sunday edition of the newspaper. 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 (Philadelphia)|Market Street]] and later expanded further into an adjacent property.<ref name="Inqhistory"/>

===20th century===
{{Further|Inquirer Building}}
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 18-story Elverson Building, now known as the [[Inquirer Building]]. The first issue of ''The Inquirer'' was printed at the new building on July 13, 1925. Four years later, in 1929, Elverson Jr. died, and his sister, Eleanor Elverson Patenôtre, widow of [[Jules Patenotre des Noyers|Jules Patenôtre]], assumed leadership of ''The Inquirer''.<ref name="Inqhistory"/>

Patenôtre ordered cuts throughout the paper, but was not really interested in managing it, and ownership of the newspaper was put up for sale. [[Cyrus Hermann Kotzschmar Curtis|Cyrus Curtis]] and Curtis-Martin Newspapers Inc. bought the newspaper on March 5, 1930.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=March 17, 1930 |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,738833-1,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023173441/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,738833-1,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 23, 2012 |title=Again, Curtis-Martin |magazine=Time }}</ref>

Curtis died a year later and his stepson-in-law, [[John Charles Martin]], took charge. Martin merged ''The Inquirer'' with another paper, the ''Public Ledger'', but the [[Great Depression]] hurt Curtis-Martin Newspapers and the company [[Default (finance)|defaulted]] in payments of maturity notes. Ownership of ''The Inquirer'' then returned to the Patenôtre family and Elverson Corp.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=August 10, 1936 |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,762298,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081215075508/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,762298,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 15, 2008 |title=Philadelphia Purchase |magazine=Time }}</ref>

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="Pressa" /><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 |url=https://archive.org/details/legacybiographyo00ogde }}</ref>

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 sentenced to three years in prison. While incarcerated, he fell ill and died from a [[brain tumor]] six weeks after his release from prison in June 1942.<ref>{{Cite web |title=From Paperboy to Philanthropist |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/books/99/07/25/reviews/990725.25smit.html |access-date=May 29, 2022 |website=archive.nytimes.com}}</ref> Upon Moses Annenberg's death, his son, [[Walter Annenberg]], took over.

In 1947, the ''Record'' went out of business, and ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' emerged as Philadelphia's only major daily morning newspaper. While still trailing behind Philadelphia's largest newspaper, the [[Philadelphia Bulletin|''Evening Bulletin'']], ''The Inquirer'' also continued to operate profitably.

In 1948, Walter Annenberg expanded the Inquirer Building with a new structure that housed new printing presses for ''The Inquirer''. During the 1950s and 1960s, Annenberg acquired [[Seventeen (American magazine)|''Seventeen'' magazine]]  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>.

In 1958, a 38-day strike in 1958 hurt ''The Inquirer'' and, following the strike, so many reporters had accepted buyout offers and left that the newsroom was noticeably empty, leaving many copy clerks with little experience responsible for reporting.

One of the few star reporters of the 1950s and 1960s was investigative reporter [[Harry Karafin]], who exposed corruption and wrote exclusive stories for ''The Inquirer'', but also [[Extortion|extorted]] money out of individuals and organizations. Karafin told sources that he had harmful information on them, and would demand money in exchange for him not making the information public.<ref name="Annenberg" /> This went on from the late 1950s into the early 1960s before Karafin was exposed in 1967 and was subsequently convicted of extortion a year later, in 1968. As the newspaper entered the 1970s, circulation and advertising revenue was declining, and the newspaper had become, as [[Time (magazine)|''Time'' magazine]] reported, "uncreative and undistinguished."<ref name="Time" />

===Corporate ownership===
{| style="float:right;"  class="wikitable"
|+ '''Daily Circulation'''
|-
! Year
! Weekday
! Sunday
|-
| 1936<ref name="Inqhistory" />
| 280,093
| 669,152
|-
| 1938
| 345,422
| 1,035,871
|-
| 1968
| 648,000
| 905,000
|-
| 1984<ref name="Time">{{cite magazine |first=William A. |last=Henry III |date=April 30, 1984 |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,951064-1,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221134556/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,951064-1,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 21, 2008 |title=The Ten Best U.S. Dailies |magazine=Time |page=61}}</ref>
| 533,000
| 995,000
|-
| 1990<ref name="sinking">{{cite journal |first=Frank |last=Lewis |date=October 21–28, 1999 |title=Sinking Ship |journal=Philadelphia City Paper |url=http://www.citypaper.net/articles/102199/feat.cov.story1.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060623100350/http://www.citypaper.net/articles/102199/feat.cov.story1.shtml |archive-date=June 23, 2006  }}</ref>
| 511,000
| 996,000
|-
| 1999
| 402,000
| 802,000
|-
| 2002<ref name="Pressa" />
| 373,892
| 747,969
|-
| 2006<ref>{{Cite journal |first=Joseph N. |last=DiStefano |date=May 9, 2006 |title=Shrinking only on paper |journal=The Philadelphia Inquirer |url=http://articles.philly.com/2006-05-09/business/25401251_1_print-circulation-philadelphia-papers-mcclatchy-plans|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801084108/http://articles.philly.com/2006-05-09/business/25401251_1_print-circulation-philadelphia-papers-mcclatchy-plans|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 1, 2013}}</ref>
| 350,457
| 705,965
|-
| 2007<ref name="final2007">{{cite journal|first=Maria|last=Panaritis|date=March 1, 2008|title=Audit reduces Inquirer Sunday circulation|journal=The Philadelphia Inquirer|page=D01}}</ref>
| 338,049
| 645,095
|-
| 2019<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cipriano |first1=Ralph |title=Inquirer Management Fears Philly Could Have No Daily Paper in 5 Years |url=https://www.phillymag.com/news/2019/07/18/inquirer-report-news-desert/ |access-date=January 15, 2021 |work=[[Philadelphia (magazine)|Philadelphia]] |date=July 18, 2019}}</ref>
| 101,818
| 201,024
|}

In 1969, [[Samuel Irving Newhouse, Sr.|Samuel Newhouse]] offered Annenberg $55 million to acquire ''The Inquirer''. But having earlier promised [[John S. Knight]] the right of first refusal to any sale, Annenberg instead sold the newspaper to Knight, and ''The Inquirer'' and ''Philadelphia Daily News'' became part of Knight Newspapers and its new subsidiary, Philadelphia Newspapers Inc. (PNI). Five years later, in 1974, Knight Newspapers merged with Ridder Publications to form [[Knight Ridder]].<ref name="Knight Ridder Merger">{{cite news |title=Exec helped merge Knight Ridder in '74 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-dec-31-me-passings31.s4-story.html |access-date=January 3, 2021 |work=Los Angeles Times |agency=Times Wire Reports |date=December 31, 2008}}</ref>

When ''The Inquirer'' was acquired, it was understaffed, its equipment was largely outdated, many of its employees were underskilled, and the newspaper trailed its chief competitor, the ''Evening Bulletin'', in weekday circulation. In 1972, however, [[Eugene L. Roberts Jr.]] became ''The Inquirer''{{'s}} executive editor, and once again turned the newspaper around.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

Between 1975 and 1990, ''The Inquirer'' won seventeen [[Pulitzer Prize|Pulitzers]], six of which were won in consecutive years between 1975 and 1980, and the newspaper won more journalism awards than any other newspaper in the United States. ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine named ''The Inquirer'' 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" />

In 1980, ''The Inquirer'' had emerged as the most circulated paper in Philadelphia, forcing the ''Evening Bulletin'' to shut down two years later. Between 1970 and 1985, however, ''The Inquirer'' experienced eleven strikes, the longest of which, in 1985, lasted 46 days. ''The Inquirer'' also faced criticism for its expanded international coverage, which led ''Time'' magazine to report that it was covering "[[Karachi]] better than [[Kensington, Philadelphia|Kensington]]".<ref name="Time" />

Throughout the 1980s, however, the newspaper continued to grow. When the ''Evening Bulletin'' shut down in 1982, ''The Inquirer'' hired 17 ''Bulletin'' reporters and doubled its bureaus to attract former ''Bulletin'' readers.<ref name="Columbia">{{cite journal |first=Michael |last=Shapiro |date=March–April 2006 |title=Looking for Light |journal=Columbia Journalism Review  }}</ref> By 1989, Philadelphia Newspapers Inc.'s editorial staff reached a peak of 721 employees.<ref name="PressThink">{{cite news |last1=Zucchino |first1=David |title=Feeling Like an Orphan in Philadelphia |url=http://archive.pressthink.org/2006/03/17/nwsp_natr_p.html |access-date=January 3, 2021 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=March 17, 2006 |via=[[PressThink]]}}</ref>

In the 1990s, ''The Inquirer'' again confronted challenges with diminishing circulation and advertisement revenue. While part of a nationwide trend, the impact was exacerbated by, according to dissatisfied ''Inquirer'' employees, the newspaper resisting changes that many other daily newspapers implemented to keep readers and pressure from Knight Ridder to cut operating costs.<ref name="sinking" />

During most of Roberts's time as editor, Knight Ridder allowed him a great deal of freedom in running the newspaper. In the late 1980s, however, Knight Ridder expressed concern about ''The Inquirer''{{'s}} profitability and took a more active role in its operations. Knight Ridder pressured ''The Inquirer'' to expand into the more profitable Philadelphia suburbs, while at the same time cutting staff and coverage of national and international stories.<ref name="Columbia" /> Some of ''The Inquirer''{{'s}} best reporters accepted buyouts, and left for ''[[The New York Times]]'' and ''[[The Washington Post]]''. By the late 1990s, all of the high-level editors who had worked with Roberts in the 1970s and 1980s had left, none at normal retirement age.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

Since the 1980s, ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' has won three Pulitzers: a 1997 award for "Explanatory Journalism.",<ref>{{cite book |last=Merritt |first=Davis |author-link=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 |isbn=0-8144-0854-0 |url=https://archive.org/details/knightfallknight00merr }}</ref> the public service award (the top category) in 2012 for "its coverage of pervasive violence in the city's schools",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pulitzer.org/prize-winners-by-year/2012|title=2012 Pulitzer Prizes|last1=Carroll|first1=Kathleen|display-authors=et al|year=2012|website=The Pulitzer Prizes}}</ref> and the 2014 prize for criticism, won by the newspaper's architecture critic, Inga Saffron.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pulitzer.org/prize-winners-by-year/201|title=2014 Pulitzer Prizes|website=The Pulitzer Prizes|last1=Tash|first1=Paul C.|last2=Gissler|first2=Sig|year=2014}}</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'', claiming it was difficult reporting negative stories in ''The Inquirer'' about the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia]].<ref>{{cite journal |first=Frank |last=Lewis |date=January 11–18, 2001 |title=So Sorry |journal=Philadelphia City Paper |url=http://www.citypaper.net/articles/011101/cb.om.sorry.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060614172159/http://www.citypaper.net/articles/011101/cb.om.sorry.shtml |archive-date=June 14, 2006  }}</ref> 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 |first=Frank |last=Lewis |date=June 18–25, 1998 |title=Bob and Weave |journal=Philadelphia City Paper |url=http://www.citypaper.net/articles/061898/om.bob.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060614171719/http://www.citypaper.net/articles/061898/om.bob.shtml |archive-date=June 14, 2006  }}</ref> The suit was later settled out of court in 2001.<ref name="Libel suit 2001">{{cite news |last1=Barringer |first1=Felicity |title=Reporter and Philadelphia Paper Settle Libel Suit Filed After Firing (Published 2001) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/06/us/reporter-and-philadelphia-paper-settle-libel-suit-filed-after-firing.html |access-date=January 3, 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=January 6, 2001}}</ref>

===21st century===
In the early 21st century, ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' launched an online news desk to compete with local Philadelphia radio stations in the coverage of breaking news.<ref name=anderson/>{{rp|48–49}}

==== 2006 sale and bankruptcy ====
In June 2006, Knight Ridder was acquired by its rival, [[The McClatchy Company]]. ''The Inquirer'' and the ''Philadelphia Daily News'' were among the 12 least profitable Knight Ridder newspapers that McClatchy put up for sale in March 2006.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4802304.stm |title=Knight Ridder bought for $4.5bn |work=BBC News |date=March 13, 2006 |access-date=May 28, 2006}}</ref> On June 29, 2006, ''The Inquirer'' and ''Daily News'' were sold to [[Philadelphia Media Holdings]] LLC (PMH), a group of Philadelphia-area business people, including [[Brian Tierney]], PMH's chief executive. The new owners announced plans to spend US$5 million on advertisements and promotions to increase ''The Inquirer''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> profile and readership.<ref name="job1">{{cite journal |first=Joseph N. |last=DiStefano |date=June 30, 2006 |title=Job 1 for new owners: Raise papers' profile |journal=The Philadelphia Inquirer |url=http://articles.philly.com/2006-06-30/news/25402461_1_brian-tierney-new-owners-philadelphia-media-holdings-llc|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801084015/http://articles.philly.com/2006-06-30/news/25402461_1_brian-tierney-new-owners-philadelphia-media-holdings-llc|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 1, 2013}}</ref>

Following PMH's acquisition, ''The Inquirer'' advertising and other revenue, especially its national advertising revenue, fell considerably, and the newspaper's circulation also continued to fall. As a result, the newspaper's management cut 400 jobs at ''The Inquirer'' and ''Daily News'' between 2006 and 2009.<ref>{{cite journal | first=Steve | last=Volk | date=February 2009 | title=1978 Called. It wants its Newspaper Back | journal=Philadelphia Magazine | url=http://www.phillymag.com/articles/philadelphia_inquirer_1978_called_it_wants_its_newspaper_back/page1 | access-date=February 1, 2009 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131223618/http://www.phillymag.com/articles/philadelphia_inquirer_1978_called_it_wants_its_newspaper_back/page1 | archive-date=January 31, 2009 | df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |first=Joann |last=Loviglio |date=January 3, 2007 |title=Philadelphia Inquirer lays off 71 people |journal=[[BusinessWeek]]}}</ref> On February 21, 2009, despite cutting its operating costs, however, Philadelphia Newspapers LLC, filed for [[Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection]] with the company holding approximately US$390 million in debt, much of which was borrowed to acquire ''The Inquirer'' and ''Daily News''.<ref>{{cite journal | first=Richard | last=Pérez-Peña | date=February 22, 2009 | title=Philadelphia Newspapers Seeking Bankruptcy | journal=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/23/business/media/23philly.html?ref=media | access-date=February 24, 2009}}</ref>

==== Ownership shifts (2009-2014) ====
The bankruptcy filing kicked off a year-long dispute between Philadelphia Media Holdings and its creditors. Creditors, including banks and [[hedge fund]]s, sought to take control of Philadelphia Newspapers LLC themselves and opposed efforts by Philadelphia Media Holdings to maintain control of the newspaper's operations.<ref>{{cite web|title=Philadelphia Media Holdings Chapter 11Petition |website=PacerMonitor |url=https://www.pacermonitor.com/view/KLUZVLA/Philadelphia_Media_Holdings,_LLC_paebke-09-14315_0001.0.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104163758/https://www.pacermonitor.com/view/KLUZVLA/Philadelphia_Media_Holdings,_LLC_paebke-09-14315_0001.0.pdf |archive-date=January 4, 2017 |url-status=live |access-date=January 3, 2017}}</ref> Philadelphia Media Holdings was supported by most of the newspaper's unions. It also launched a public relations campaign to promote its continued control of the newspaper, highlighting the value of local ownership of media.<ref>{{cite journal |first=Daniel |last=Denvir |date=September 3, 2009 |title=Local Flavor |journal=Columbia Journalism Review |url=https://www.cjr.org/behind_the_news/local_flavor.php }}</ref>

On April 28, 2010, at a bankruptcy auction, the group of lending creditors and a group of local investors allied with Tierney both bid for ''The Inquirer'' and ''Daily News''. The lenders emerged with the winning bid for the newspapers,<ref>{{Cite journal |first=Christopher K. |last=Hepp |author2=Harold Brubaker  |date=April 28, 2010 |title=Phila. Newspapers sold to lenders |journal=The Philadelphia Inquirer}}</ref> but the deal collapsed after the lenders, operating under the name of [[Philadelphia Media Network]] (PMN), were unable to reach a contract agreement with the union representing the company's newspaper delivery drivers.<ref>{{cite journal | first=Peter |last=Van Allen | date=September 15, 2010 | title=Sale of Inquirer, Daily News voided, new auction date set for Sept. | journal=Philadelphia Business Journal |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2010/09/13/daily30.html | access-date=May 11, 2011}}</ref>

Philadelphia Newspapers, represented by Lawrence G. McMichael of Dilworth Paxson LLP, challenged the right of creditors to credit bid at a bankruptcy auction. Their claim was ultimately heard by the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit|U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit]], which agreed that that credit bidding was not permitted.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

In September 2010, both newspapers again were placed for auction, and again Philadelphia Media Network (PMN) won the bid. After successfully negotiating a contract with all of the newspaper's 14 unions, the $139 million deal was finalized on October 8.<ref>{{cite journal | first=Steven |last=Church | date=September 24, 2010 | title=Philadelphia Inquirer Lenders Best Perelman in Bankruptcy Court Auction | journal=Bloomberg Businessweek |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-23/philadelphia-inquirer-lenders-outbid-raymond-perelman-for-newspaper-owner.html | access-date=July 19, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | date=October 8, 2010 | title=Meet the New Boss: Philly Newspapers Sale Finally Completed | journal=Editor & Publisher |url=http://www.editorandpublisher.com/Headlines/meet-the-new-boss-philly-newspapers-sale-finally-completed-62928-.aspx | access-date=May 11, 2011}}</ref> ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' continued with profitability, largely due to emerging competition from digital media sources. 

By May 2012, the combined journalist staff at all of Philadelphia Media Network was about 320, and some of the same stories and photographs appeared both in ''The Inquirer'' and ''Daily News''.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}} In October 2011, Philadelphia Media Network sold the [[Inquirer Building]] to Bart Blatstein, a developer affiliated with Tower Investments Inc., who said he intended to turn the complex into a [[mixed use development|mixed-use complex]] of offices retail and apartments. The following month, however, publisher and chief executive officer Gregory J. Osberg announced that 600 of the 740 Philadelphia Media Network employees of ''The Inquirer'', ''Daily News'', and Philly.com would move to office space in the former [[Strawbridge's|Strawbridge & Clothier]] department store on east [[Market Street (Philadelphia)|Market Street]], and that the remaining employees would move to offices in the Philadelphia suburbs.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

In July 2012, Philadelphia Media Network moved to the new location, consolidating its offices on the building's third floor. Cutbacks left much of the {{convert|525000|sqft|m2|sigfig=2}} of the Inquirer Building empty, but the {{convert|125000|sqft|adj=on|m2|sigfig=2}} east Market Street location consolidated Philadelphia Media's departments, including the ''Daily News''{{'s}} newsroom with ''The Inquirer''. The new location has a street-level lobby and event room. Plans for the building also included electronic signage such as a [[news ticker]] on the corner of the [[Center City, Philadelphia|Center City Philadelphia]] high-rise.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Fernandez |first=Bob |date=November 14, 2011 |title=Inquirer, DN moving to 8th & Market |url=http://articles.philly.com/2011-11-14/news/30397996_1_new-location-newsroom-inquirer |url-status=dead |journal=The Philadelphia Inquirer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111219004749/http://articles.philly.com/2011-11-14/news/30397996_1_new-location-newsroom-inquirer |archive-date=December 19, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Saffron1">{{Cite journal |last=Saffron |first=Inga |date=July 14, 2012 |title=Will our move to Market Street move the street? |url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/home/20120713_Will_our_move_to_Market_Street_move_the_street_.html |journal=The Philadelphia Inquirer |volume= |pages= |via=}}</ref>

On April 2, 2012, a group of local business leaders paid $55 million for the newspaper, less than 15 percent of the $515 million spent to buy the papers in 2006.<ref name="2012sale">{{cite web|date=April 3, 2012 | title=Reaction to the latest sale of daily newspapers|work=Philadelphia Business Journal|last1=Van Allen|first1=Peter|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2012/04/03/reaction-to-the-latest-sale-of-daily.html?page=all | access-date=July 18, 2012}}</ref> In June 2014, PMN was sold to [[H. F. Lenfest|H.F. "Gerry" Lenfest]], who appointed C.Z. "Terry" Egger as publisher and chief executive officer four months later, in October 2015.<ref>{{cite news | url= http://mobile.philly.com/business/?wss=/philly/business&id=322712911& | work= The Inquirer | via= Philly.com | author-first= Jeff | author-last= Gammage | title= 'Terry' Egger named publisher of Philadelphia Media Network | date= August 25, 2015 | access-date= October 24, 2015 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304104557/http://mobile.philly.com/business/?wss=%2Fphilly%2Fbusiness&id=322712911& | archive-date= March 4, 2016 | url-status= dead | df= mdy-all }}</ref>

==== Nonprofit era and merger (2016-present) ====
In 2016, Lenfest donated PMN to [[The Philadelphia Foundation]], so that ''The Inquirer'', its daily tabloid affiliate, the ''Daily News'', and their joint website, Philly.com, could remain in Philadelphia.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gamage|first=Jeff|date=January 12, 2016|title=Lenfest donates newspapers, website to new media institute|url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/business/20160112_Lenfest_donates_newspapers__website_to_new_media_institute.html|access-date=January 3, 2017|work=Philly.com|publisher=Philadelphia Media Network (Digital) LLC}}</ref>

In 2019, PMN renamed Philly.com to Inquirer.com, and the ''Daily News'' was made an edition of ''The Inquirer''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krewson |first=Chris |date=2015-10-30 |title=Inquirer, Daily News to merge: What it means for its readers |url=https://billypenn.com/2015/10/30/inquirer-daily-news-to-merge-what-it-means-for-its-readers/ |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=Billy Penn at WHYY |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mathis |first=Joel |date=2015-10-30 |title=Inky, Daily News Newsrooms to Merge |url=https://www.phillymag.com/news/2015/10/30/inquirer-daily-news-merge-layoffs/ |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=Philadelphia Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> Philadelphia Media Network, in turn, was renamed The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC.<ref name="Billy Penn">{{Cite web| title = Why the Inquirer is replacing Philly.com| work = Billy Penn| access-date = August 25, 2019| url = https://billypenn.com/2019/06/01/why-the-inquirer-is-replacing-philly-com/}}</ref> ''The Inquirer'' also became a founding member of [[Spotlight PA]], an investigative reporting partnership focused on [[Pennsylvania]].<ref name="SPAPR">{{cite web |url=https://www.spotlightpa.org/press-releases/2019/pennlive-the-patriot-news-join-spotlight-pa-as-founding-partners/ |title=PennLive & The Patriot-News join Spotlight PA as founding partners |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=August 29, 2019 |website=Spotlight PA |access-date=November 6, 2021}}</ref>

On June 2, 2020, ''The Inquirer'' ran an [[Inga Saffron]] op-ed covering the [[George Floyd protests in Philadelphia|George Floyd protests]] under the headline "Buildings Matter, Too",<ref>{{Cite web |last=Saffron |first=Inga |date=June 2020 |title=Damaging buildings disproportionately hurts the people protesters are trying to uplift {{!}} Inga Saffron |url=https://www.inquirer.com/columnists/floyd-protest-center-city-philadelphia-lootings-52nd-street-walnut-chestnut-street-20200601.html |access-date=February 13, 2021 |website=Philadelphia Inquirer |language=en-US}}</ref> a reference to property damage inflicted by [[Black Lives Matter]] during the Floyd protests.<ref>{{Cite web|date=June 3, 2020|title=An apology to our readers and Inquirer employees|url=https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-inquirer-black-lives-matter-headline-apology-20200603.html|access-date=February 13, 2021|website=The Philadelphia Inquirer}}</ref> The next day, editors apologized for the headline<ref>{{cite web|last=Wise|first=Justin|date=June 4, 2020|title=Philadelphia Inquirer reporters skip work after paper publishes 'Buildings Matter, Too' headline|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/501136-philadelphia-inquirer-reporters-skip-work-buildings-matter-too-headline|access-date=June 5, 2020|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Bauder|first=David|date=June 5, 2020|title=New York Times says senator's op-ed didn't meet standards|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/headlines-op-ed-prompt-staff-protests-ny-times-71077886|access-date=June 5, 2020|publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Gurley|first=Lauren Kaori|date=June 4, 2020|title=Journalists of Color at the Philadelphia Inquirer Stage Mass 'Sick out'|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/journalists-of-color-at-the-philadelphia-inquirer-stage-mass-sick-out/|access-date=June 5, 2020|work=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]}}</ref> and several ''Inquirer'' journalists wrote an open letter, alleging that the newspaper was failing to report accurately on the Philadelphia area's non-white communities. The letter demanded a plan for correcting these issues, threatening to call in "sick and tired" beginning the following day, June 4, if the concerns were not addressed. The letter read in part:<ref>{{Cite web|title=Open Letter From Journalists of Color at the Philadelphia Inquirer|url=http://transformtheinquirer.com/open-letter-from-journalists-of-color-at-the-philadelphia-inquirer/|access-date=February 13, 2021|website=transformtheinquirer.com|language=en-US|archive-date=January 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122082611/http://transformtheinquirer.com/open-letter-from-journalists-of-color-at-the-philadelphia-inquirer/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{{Blockquote|text=We're tired of shouldering the burden of dragging this 200-year-old institution kicking and screaming into a more equitable age. We're tired of being told of the progress the company has made and being served platitudes about "diversity and inclusion" when we raise our concerns. We're tired of seeing our words and photos twisted to fit a narrative that does not reflect our reality. We're tired of being told to show both sides of issues there are no two sides of.|author=Journalists of Color of The Philadelphia Inquirer|title=|source=}}

On June 4, as promised in their letter, over 40 ''Inquirer'' staffers called in sick. Two days later, on June 6, the newspaper announced that Stan Wischnowski would resign as the newspaper's senior vice president and executive editor,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Stan Wischnowski resigns as The Philadelphia Inquirer's top editor|url=https://www.inquirer.com/news/stan-wischnowski-resigns-philadelphia-inquirer-20200606.html|website=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=June 6, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/jun/06/philadelphia-inquirer-editor-resigns-buildings-matter-too|title='Buildings matter': Philadelphia newspaper editor resigns after headline sparks uproar|date=June 7, 2020|access-date=June 7, 2020|work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> and ''Inquirer'' journalists were told they would not have a say in his replacement.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Five actions: status & progress|url=http://transformtheinquirer.com/five-actions/|access-date=February 13, 2021|website=transformtheinquirer.com|language=en-US}}{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In 2022, the paper admitted to its own racism, both in publishing the article and across the organization.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Black City, White Paper|work=Philadelphia Inquirer|url=https://www.inquirer.com/news/inq2/philadelphia-inquirer-racism-equity-diversity-black-journalists-20220215.html}}</ref>

In May 2023, ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' was severely disrupted by a [[cyberattack]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lakhani |first=Nina |date=May 15, 2023 |title=Philadelphia Inquirer severely disrupted by cyber-attack |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/may/15/philadelphia-inquirer-cyber-attack |access-date=May 15, 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> In March 2025, the ''Inquirer'' eliminated its Communities and Engagement Desk, which had covered marginalized communities since 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Avilucea |first=Isaac |date=2025-03-21 |title=Scoop: Inquirer lays off staff, ends Communities and Engagement Desk |url=https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2025/03/21/philadelphia-inquirer-layoffs-communities-engagement-desk |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=Axios |language=en}}</ref>

==Politics==
[[Image:Inquirerbldg sign.jpg|thumb|The sign above the entrance to [[Inquirer Building]]]]
Since its founding in 1829, ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' has asserted itself editorially on political issues of the day. In its earliest days, John Norvell left as editor of  what was then the ''Aurora & Gazette'' 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 its upper classes. The newly launched newspaper supported the ideology of [[Jeffersonian democracy]] and the political leadership of then [[President of the United States|U.S. president]] [[Andrew Jackson]], declaring support for the right of the minority's opinion to be heard.<ref name="Inqhistory" /> In founding of ''The Inquirer'', according to legend, 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 |last=Shapiro |first=Howie |date=May 23, 2006 |title=Asking 'Why?' since 1829 |website=The Philadelphia Inquirer}}</ref>

When Norvell and Walker sold their newspaper to Jesper Harding, Harding kept the newspaper close to the founder's politics and supported the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]. However, Harding disagreed with Andrew Jackson's handling of the [[Second Bank of the United States]], and he began supporting the anti-Jackson wing of the Democrats. During the [[1836 United States presidential election|1836 Presidential election]], Harding supported the [[Whig Party (United States)|Whig party]] candidate over the Democratic candidate, which led ''The Inquirer'' to become known as a pro-Whig newspaper.<ref name="Pressa" />

Before the [[American Civil War]] commenced in 1861 ''The Inquirer'' supported the preservation of the [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]], and was critical of the [[Abolitionism|abolitionist movement]], which some felt was responsible for secession of [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] states.<ref name="phillyhistory">{{cite book | last1=Weigley | first1=Russell F. | author-link1=Russell Weigley | chapter=The Border City in Civil War, 1854–1865 | title=Philadelphia: A 300 Year History | date=1982 | publisher=W. W. Norton | location=New York | isbn=978-0-393-01610-9 | editor-last1=Weigley | editor-first1=Russell F. |editor-link1=Russell Weigley| editor-last2=Wainwright | editor-first2=Nicholas B. | editor-last3=Wolf | editor-first3=Edwin II | editor-link3=Edwin Wolf II | url=https://archive.org/details/philadelphia300y00weig}}</ref>{{rp|404}}

Once the Civil War began, ''The Inquirer'' reported neutrally and independently on the war, but firmly supported the Union.<ref name="Inqhistory" /> At first, editors of ''The Inquirer'' opposed [[Emancipation Proclamation|emancipation]]. Following military setbacks of the [[Union Army]], however, ''The Inquirer'' began editorializing in support of a more pro-Union and pro-[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] stance. In a July 1862 article, ''The Inquirer'' wrote, "in this war there can be but two parties, patriots and traitors."<ref name="phillyhistory" />{{rp|405}}

When James Elverson assumed leadership of ''The Inquirer'', he 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 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 (Philadelphia)|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 ending what the newspaper saw as a corrupt plan to buy the polluted [[Schuylkill Canal]] for drinking water. The newspaper maintained these editorial positions under Elverson's son, Elverson Jr.. 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]], and did not provide much reporting on [[Great Depression]]. Statistics on unemployment or business closings were ignored, even when they were conveyed by the [[Federal government of the United States|federal government]]. As some Philadelphia banks closed during the Great Depression, news of their closing was relegated to the back of the newspaper's financial section.

When Moses Annenberg assumed leadership of ''The Inquirer'', he announced that the newspaper 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 presidential election. The newspaper's editors at the time rejected this idea, and the paper remained largely [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]].

In the late 1930s, Annenberg disagreed with Roosevelt's [[New Deal]] programs and his handling of strikes, leading to editorials in ''The Inquirer'' that criticized Roosevelt's policies and his supporters. Annenberg strongly opposed [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] [[Governor of Pennsylvania|Pennsylvania governor]] [[George Howard Earle III|George Earle]], and ''The Inquirer'' supported Republican candidates in the 1938 Pennsylvania state elections. When Republicans swept the election, there was a celebration at ''The Inquirer'' headquarters that included red flares and the firing of cannons. The attacks against Democrats and the support given Republicans caught the attention of the [[Presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt|Roosevelt administration]].

Under Annenberg, ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' emerged as a major challenger to ''The Record'', which was supportive of Democrats. As Annenberg began focusing on politics, Democratic politicians often attacked Annenberg, accusing him of illegal business practices. In 1939, Annenberg was charged with income tax evasion. He pleaded guilty prior to his trial, and was sentenced to three years in prison. Annenberg's friends and his son, Walter, claimed that the entire trial was politically motivated and that his sentence was excessively harsh.<ref name="Annenberg" />

===Independent===
[[File:The Philadelphia Inquirer at Eagles Victory Parade (40176710721).jpg|thumb|Copies of ''The Inquirer'' being sold at the [[Philadelphia Eagles]]' [[Super Bowl LII]] victory parade in 2018]]
[[File:Strawbridge & Clothier Building from Market and 8th Streets.jpg|thumb|The former [[Strawbridge's|Strawbridge & Clothier Building]] at 801 [[Market Street (Philadelphia)|Market Street]], where the ''Inquirer'' and ''Daily News'' were located from 2012 to 2022]]
In 1947, ''The Record'', the primary Philadelphia competitor of ''The Inquirer'', ceased operations, and ''The Inquirer'' announced that it would be an independent newspaper.
Frustrated with corruption in Philadelphia, ''The Inquirer'' supported Democratic candidates in the 1951 election.<ref name="Inqhistory" />

While Walter Annenberg promised that ''The Inquirer'' would be politically independent, he still used the newspaper to attack people he disliked, sometimes including a person or group with whom he was angered. Annenberg then blacklisted the person or group, insisting that they not be mentioned in ''The Inquirer''. People on the blacklist were even airbrushed out of images. Annenberg's blacklist included [[Nicholas Katzenbach]], [[Ralph Nader]], [[Zsa Zsa Gabor]], and the [[Philadelphia Warriors]], the city's professional basketball team at the time, who Annenberg insisted not be 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 a patient, Shapp said no. The following day, ''The Inquirer''{{'}}s headline read, "Shapp Denies Rumors He Had Psychiatric Treatment in 1965."<ref>Miller, Joseph H. (October 23, 1966) "Shapp Denies Rumors He Had Psychiatric Treatment in 1965". ''The Philadelphia Inquirer''. Retrieved July 27, 2021.</ref> 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 [[1952 United States presidential election|1952 presidential election]], critics later claimed Annenberg and the newspaper looked the other way when covering allegations related to Nixon's purported misappropriation of funds. Later, to avoid accusations of political bias, Annenberg had ''The Inquirer'' use only the [[Associated Press]] and other news wire services in covering the [[1960 United States presidential election|1960]] and [[1968 United States presidential election|1968]] presidential elections in which Nixon was a candidate, losing in 1960 to [[John F. Kennedy]] and winning in 1968 in a three-way race against [[Hubert Humphrey]] and [[George Wallace]].<ref name="Annenberg" />

After Nixon's election as president in 1968, he appointed Annenberg [[List of ambassadors of the United States to the United Kingdom|U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom]]. A year later, in 1969, Annenberg sold ''The Inquirer'' to Knight Newspapers in a transaction that stipulated that Annenberg's name would appear as "Editor and Publisher Emeritus" on ''The Inquirer''{{'s}} [[Masthead (American publishing)|masthead]]. In 1970, Annenberg, unhappy with the direction of ''The Inquirer'' under the new ownership, had his name removed from the newspaper's masthead following its publication of an editorial critical of Richard Nixon.<ref name="Inqhistory" />

Under Knight Ridder, ''The Inquirer'' continued to insist that it remained editorially independent, but the newspaper faced criticism from [[Conservatism in the United States|conservatives]], who labeled it [[Liberalism in the United States|left leaning]].<ref>''The Radio Factor with Bill O'Reilly'', February 13, 2006.</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Smerconish |first=Michael |title=Meet the New Boss, Same as the Old Boss? |website=Philadelphia Daily News |date=July 13, 2006}}</ref> Although the Inquirer was known as the "Republican Bible of Pennsylvania" in the early 1900s, as of 2006, ''The Inquirer'' had not endorsed a Republican candidate for president for over a quarter century, when it endorsed [[Gerald Ford]] in the [[1976 United States presidential election|1976 presidential election]].<ref>INQUIRER STAFF WRITER, Troy Graham. "Inquirer's pick comes with a dissent." ''Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA)'', October 19, 2008: A09. ''NewsBank: Access World News''. https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&docref=news/1244165C12619CB8 .</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |date=November 8, 1976 |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,918478,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220153643/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,918478,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 20, 2011 |title=Who's for Whom |magazine=Time }}</ref>

Throughout the 1990s and into the 21st century, the newspaper also faced criticism for its coverage of [[Israel]], including from the [[Zionist Organization of America]], which accused ''The Inquirer'' of being [[Anti-Zionism|anti-Israel]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://zena.secureforum.com/Znet/zmag/articles/barherman.htm |title=Beyond Hypocrisy: Decoding the News |author1-last=Barsamian|author1-first=David|author2-last=Herman|author2-first=Edward S.|date=July 14, 1993 |access-date=July 9, 2006|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060505123909/http://zena.secureforum.com/Znet/zmag/articles/barherman.htm |archive-date = May 5, 2006|url-status=dead}}</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]]. Following its publication, [[Muslims]] picketed outside the [[Inquirer Building]] to protest their printing.<ref>{{cite journal |date=February 13, 2006 |title=Muslims Protest Philadelphia Newspaper's Publishing of Cartoon |journal=Associated Press |url=http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/muslims-protest-philadelphia-newspapers-publishing-of-cartoon |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130414191312/http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/muslims-protest-philadelphia-newspapers-publishing-of-cartoon |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 14, 2013 }}</ref>

When Philadelphia Media Holdings L.L.C. (PMH) bought the paper in 2006, Brian Tierney and the business people associated with PMH signed a pledge promising that they would not seek to influence the content of the newspaper. Tierney, a Republican advertising and public relations executive, had criticized ''The Inquirer'' in the past on behalf of his clients, including the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia, which he had represented.<ref>{{cite journal |first=Ken |last=Dilanian |date=May 24, 2006 |title=Frequent critic of media takes newspapers' helm |journal=The Philadelphia Inquirer}}</ref>

In 2012, the sale of ''The Inquirer'' to six local Philadelphia business leaders led to concerns of conflict of interest.<ref>{{cite web |first=Peter |last=Van Allen |date=April 3, 2012 |title=Reaction to the latest sale of daily newspapers |publisher=Philadelphia Business Journal | url=http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2012/04/03/reaction-to-the-latest-sale-of-daily.html?page=all |access-date=July 18, 2012}}</ref> The new owners, which included New Jersey Democratic fundraiser [[George Norcross III]], media entrepreneur H. F. Lenfest, former [[New Jersey Nets]] owner [[Lewis Katz]], and CEO of [[Liberty Property Trust]] and chairman of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce William Hankowsky, pledged not to influence the content of the paper.<ref name="2012sale" />

== Board of directors ==
The members of board of directors as of January 2025<ref>{{cite web |url=https://about.inquirer.com/leadership/ |title=Leadership }}</ref>
* Elizabeth H. Hughes
* Lisa Kabnick, Chair
* [[S. Mitra Kalita]]
* [[Josh Kopelman]], Chair Emeritus
* [[Keith Leaphart]], Vice Chair
* Neil Vogel
* Gillian B. White

==Workforce==
In March 2020, The NewsGuild of Greater Philadelphia and Philadelphia Inquirer LLC reached an agreement on a three-year contract agreement that would include a workforce diversity provision and raises for the entire newsroom, which had not seen across the board salary increases since August 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Fernandez|first=Bob|title=NewsGuild, Inquirer agree to tentative labor pact with first across-the-board raise in years|url=https://www.inquirer.com/business/inquirer-union-newsguild-coronavirus-pay-raise-contract-20200312.html|access-date=February 28, 2021|website=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=March 12, 2020 }}</ref> NewsGuild membership ratified the three-year contract agreement on March 17, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Inquirer cba ratified. {{!}} The NewsGuild of Greater Philadelphia|url=https://www.local-10.com/2020/03/inquirer-cba-ratified/|access-date=February 28, 2021|website=www.local-10.com}}</ref>

===Demographics===
{{As of|2021|02}}''The Inquirer'' has 225 newsroom employees. 54.7% of whom are male and 45.3% of whom are female.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Inquirer-Diversity and Inclusion Audit Report.pdf|url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MJB8IaP4MC_kpP47ZGsVo5y1cAR3VByR/view?usp=embed_facebook|access-date=February 13, 2021|website=Google Docs}}</ref> Critics have alleged that the racial demographics of the newsroom, which is 75 percent White, does not match the city it covers, which is only 34% White.<ref>{{Cite web|date=February 12, 2021|title=A Philadelphia Inquirer headline sparked outrage — and a newsroom audit. Here's what it found.|url=https://www.poynter.org/ethics-trust/2021/a-philadelphia-inquirer-headline-sparked-outrage-and-a-newsroom-audit-heres-what-it-found/|access-date=February 13, 2021|website=Poynter|language=en-US}}</ref> However, these allegations appear to exclude the broader circulation of the newspaper, which stretches beyond the city of Philadelphia, which is approximately 60% White and approximately 20% Black.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://censusreporter.org/profiles/31000US37980-philadelphia-camden-wilmington-pa-nj-de-md-metro-area/|title = Census profile: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD Metro Area}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://statisticalatlas.com/metro-area/Pennsylvania/Philadelphia/Race-and-Ethnicity | title=The Demographic Statistical Atlas of the United States – Statistical Atlas }}</ref>

As of 2021, three quarters of the editors of ''The Inquirer'' were White.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Correa|first=Anna Orso, Jesenia De Moya|date=February 12, 2021|title=Inquirer has overwhelmingly white newsroom and its coverage underrepresents people of color, report says|url=https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-inquirer-audit-temple-race-inclusion-newsroom-20210212.html|access-date=February 13, 2021|website=Philadelphia Inquirer|language=en-US}}</ref> As of 2023, three desks – Health, Investigations and Now – have no Black journalists.

==Production==
''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' is headquartered at 100 S. Independence Mall west in the Market East section of [[Center City, Philadelphia|Center City Philadelphia]], where its tabloid sister publication, the ''[[Philadelphia Daily News]]'' is also headquartered.<ref name="Saffron1" />

In September 1994, ''The Inquirer'' and [[WPHL-TV]] began co-producing a 10&nbsp;p.m. newscast, ''Inquirer News Tonight'', which lasted a year before WPHL-TV took complete control over the program and renamed it ''WB17 News at Ten''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.myphl17.com/about/ |title=Phl17 Station History |publisher=PHL17 |access-date=July 18, 2012}}</ref>

Since 1995, ''The Inquirer'' has been available on the Internet, most recently at ''Inquirer.com'', which, along with the ''Philadelphia Daily News,'' is part of ''The Philadelphia Inquirer LLC.'' <ref name="anderson">{{cite book|last1=Anderson|first1=C. W.|title=Rebuilding the news metropolitan journalism in the digital age|date=2013|publisher=Temple University Press|isbn=9781439909355}}</ref>{{rp|17, 21}}<ref name="inquirer.com" />

In August 1999, ''The Inquirer'' and ''Daily News'' formed a  partnership with [[WPVI-TV]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Meltzer |first=Marc |title=WPVI gets connected with philly.com, Daily News' Web site |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/philadelphia-daily-news-wpvi-gets-connec/176726430/ |access-date=July 15, 2025 |newspaper=Philadelphia Daily News |date=August 2, 1999 |location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |page=10 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

In 2004, ''The Inquirer'' formed a partnership with Philadelphia's [[NBC]] station, [[WCAU (TV)|WCAU]], giving the paper access to WCAU's weather forecasts while also contributing to news segments throughout the day.<ref>{{cite journal |first=Eva |last=Blackwell |date=August 1, 2005 |title=NBC 10 And Inquirer Announce News Partnership |website=NBC10.com |url=http://www.nbc10.com/station/3674064/detail.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930154620/http://www.nbc10.com/station/3674064/detail.html |archive-date=September 30, 2007  }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |first=Paige |last=Albiniak |date=November 19, 2006 |title=WCAU Remakes Evening News |journal=Broadcasting & Cable |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/101044-WCAU_Remakes_Evening_News.php |access-date=July 18, 2012}}</ref>

In 2020, ''The Inquirer'' closed its Schuylkill Printing Plant in [[Upper Merion Township, Pennsylvania|Upper Merion Township]], laying off about 500 employees. {{As of|2021|}}, printing of ''The Inquirer'' and the ''Philadelphia Daily News'' has been outsourced to a printing plant in [[Cherry Hill, New Jersey]], which is owned by [[Gannett]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Reyes|first=Andrew Maykuth, Juliana Feliciano|date=October 9, 2020|title=Philadelphia Inquirer to sell printing facility, lay off 500 plant employees in bid for long-term economic stability|url=https://www.inquirer.com/business/philadelphia-inquirer-printing-plant-layoffs-20201009.html|access-date=February 13, 2021|website=The Philadelphia Inquirer|language=en-US}}</ref>

{{As of|2024|01}}, ''The Inquirer''{{'s}} publisher is Elizabeth H. Hughes,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Orso|first=Anna|date=January 14, 2020|title=Former New Yorker executive Lisa Hughes named Philadelphia Inquirer's first female publisher|url=https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/philadelphia-inquirer-lisa-hughes-publisher-ceo-20200114.html|access-date=February 13, 2021|website=The Philadelphia Inquirer|language=en-US}}</ref> and its editor and senior vice president is Gabriel Escobar.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About The Inquirer|url=https://www.inquirer.com/about/|access-date=July 2, 2020|website=The Philadelphia Inquirer|language=en-US}}</ref> Managing editors are Charlotte Sutton, Patrick Kerkstra, Richard G. Jones, Michael Huang, Kate Dailey and Danese Kenon. Deputy managing editors are Brian Leighton, James Neff, Ross Maghielse, Molly Eichel and Ariella Cohen.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Philadelphia Inquirer newsroom staff|url=https://www.inquirer.com/about/newsroom-staff-beats-list.html|access-date=September 13, 2022|website=The Philadelphia Inquirer|language=en-US}}</ref>

''The Inquirer'' provides coverage of Philadelphia and its surrounding suburban communities in northern [[Delaware]], [[South Jersey]], and southeastern [[Pennsylvania]].

==Pulitzer Prizes==
{| class="collapsible wikitable uncollapsed" style="clear: none; font-size: 95%; margin: 0 auto; padding: 0 auto; width: 100%;"
|-
! style="text-align:center;" colspan="5"| Pulitzer Prizes awarded to ''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]]
| Exposé 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
|-
| [[2012 Pulitzer Prize|2012]]
| [[Pulitzer Prize for Public Service|Public Service]]
| Staff of ''The Philadelphia Inquirer''
| "...exploration of pervasive violence in the city's schools"
|-
| [[2014 Pulitzer Prize|2014]]
| [[Pulitzer Prize for Criticism|Criticism]]
| [[Inga Saffron]]
| Criticism of architecture
|-
| colspan="4" | <small>''Source:'' The Pulitzer Prizes: Columbia University<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pulitzer.org/search/%2522The%2520Philadelphia%2520Inquirer%2522 |title=Search: "The Philadelphia Inquirer" |website=The Pulitzer Prizes |access-date=January 1, 2021 |publisher=Columbia University }}</ref></small>
|}

==See also==
* [[List of newspapers in Pennsylvania]]
* [[List of newspapers in the United States by circulation]]
* [[Media in Philadelphia]]
* [[:Category:The Philadelphia Inquirer people|''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' people]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|The Philadelphia Inquirer}}
* [https://www.inquirer.com/ Official website]
* {{Twitter}}

{{Portal bar|Philadelphia|Pennsylvania|Journalism}}

{{Newspapers published in Pennsylvania}}
{{Pulitzer Prize for Public Service}}
{{National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania}}
{{authority control}}

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[[Category:The Philadelphia Inquirer| ]]
[[Category:1829 establishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Daily newspapers published in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Newspapers published in Philadelphia]]
[[Category:Newspapers established in 1829]]
[[Category:Pulitzer Prize for Public Service winners]]
[[Category:Pulitzer Prize–winning newspapers]]