New era in journalism

Gerry Lenfest

and Lewis Katz

are the incoming owners of The Inquirer, Daily News, and Philly.com

We welcome you to a new era in journalism in Philadelphia - one with the support of local owners, local investment, and a commitment to objective newsgathering.

We are extremely proud to do so.

We promise to provide reporting, analysis, and commentary that are accurate, thorough, and fair. In our stories and in our editorials, in print and online, we will cover subjects that matter most to our readers in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania suburbs, and South Jersey.

In all cases, we will provide you with information about the issues that are most important in the workplace, at the polls, and in your daily life. The Inquirer and its website are at the heart of our democracy, fulfilling our First Amendment responsibility.

We are about to assume ownership of one of America's premier newspapers - celebrating its 185th birthday today. We know that our investment in The Inquirer, the Daily News, and Philly.com will make it possible for them to continue to serve the region with distinction. On every platform, they will provide investigative journalism, in-depth local news, entertainment, sports, business, photography, and - yes - advertising, which readers seek out for special offers, and much, much more.

As local people fortunate enough to now be owners of important media, we are determined to ensure that our team of award-winning journalists provides you with the most comprehensive reporting in the Philadelphia region. Our readers expect this and deserve it. Marketers expect this, too, and we certainly will help them by being an advertising medium that shoppers respond to.

In the days ahead, you can expect to see a new level of ambition and journalism excellence. We won't waver for a moment to document the region's ills where we find them - but we will also celebrate our many successes with stories that delight and lighten the day with both humor and joy.

We will have more to say in the days ahead, but for today we want to say something from the heart: We feel privileged to have the responsibility as owners.

Most important, we want to thank you for your continued loyalty to The Inquirer.