Politics The_Philadelphia_Inquirer

the sign above entrance inquirer building

john norvell left aurora & gazette , job editor because disagreed felt newspaper s editorial approval of movement towards european class system. when norvell , john walker founded inquirer wanted newspaper represent people , not higher classes. newly launched newspaper supported jeffersonian democracy , president andrew jackson, , declared support right of minority s opinion heard. legend founding of inquirer states norvell said, there no better name inquirer. in free state, there should inquirer asking on behalf of people: why done? why necessary work not done? why man put forward? why law proposed? why? why? why?

when norvell , walker sold newspaper jesper harding, harding kept paper close founder s politics , backed democratic party. however, disagreeing andrew jackson s handling of second bank of united states began supporting anti-jackson wing of democrats. during 1836 presidential election harding supported whig party candidate on democratic candidate , afterwards inquirer became known support of whig candidates. before american civil war began, inquirer supported preservation of union, , critical of antislavery movement many felt responsible southern succession crisis. once war began inquirer maintained independent reporting of war s events. inquirer firmly supported union side. @ first inquirer s editors against emancipation of slaves, after setbacks union army inquirer started advocating more pro-war , pro-republican stance. in july 1862 article, inquirer wrote in war there can 2 parties, patriots , traitors.

republican bible

under james elverson, philadelphia inquirer declared, new inquirer shall in respects complete, enterprising, progressive newspaper, moved wide-awake spirit of time , behind in nothing of interest people want know going on every day , everywhere...steadily , vigorously republican in political policy, , fair in treatment of questions... during 1900 republican convention in philadelphia, elverson set large electric banner on broad street declared philadelphia inquirer – largest republican circulation in world. @ turn of 20th century newspaper began editorial campaigns improve philadelphia, including paving of major streets , stopping corrupt plan buy polluted schuylkill canal drinking water. newspaper continued similar politics under elverson jr., , 1920s inquirer became known republican bible of pennsylvania .

between 1929 , 1936, while under patenotre , curtis-martin, inquirer continued support republican party , president herbert hoover, noticeably not reporting on news of great depression. statistics on unemployment or business closings ignored, when came government. information philadelphia banks closing relegated of financial section. when moses annenberg took on philadelphia inquirer, announced paper continue uphold principles of republican party , in meeting newspaper editors shortly after, proposed paper go independent , support president franklin d. roosevelt in upcoming election. editors rejected idea , paper remained republican. in late 1930s, annenberg disagreed roosevelt s new deal programs , handling of strikes. prompted editorials criticizing policies of roosevelt , supporters. opposed democratic pennsylvania governor george earle , had inquirer support republican candidates in 1938 pennsylvania state elections. when republicans swept election there celebration @ inquirer headquarters red flares , firing of cannons. attacks against democrats , support given towards republicans caught attention of roosevelt administration. annenberg had turned philadelphia inquirer major challenger chief competitor democratic record, , after annenberg began focusing on politics, democratic politicians attacked annenberg , accused him of illegal business practices. in 1939, annenberg charged income tax evasion, pleaded guilty before trial, , sent prison 3 years. annenberg s friends , son, walter, claimed whole trial politically motivated , sentence harsher should have been.

independent

when record shut down in 1947, inquirer announced independent newspaper and, frustrated corruption in philadelphia, supported democratic candidates in 1951 election. while walter annenberg had made inquirer independent did use paper attack people disliked. when person or group angered annenberg, blacklisted , not mentioned anywhere within inquirer. people on blacklist airbrushed out of images. people on list @ 1 point included nicholas katzenbach, ralph nader, zsa zsa gabor, , basketball team philadelphia warriors, not mentioned entire season. in 1966, walter annenberg used inquirer attack pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate milton shapp. during press conference, inquirer reporter asked shapp if had ever been patient in mental hospital; having never been patient, shapp said no. next day s headline in inquirer read shapp denies ever having been in mental home. shapp attributed loss of election annenberg s attack campaign.

annenberg backer , friend of richard nixon. in 1952 presidential election, critics later claimed annenberg had inquirer other way when covering accusations nixon misappropriating funds. later, avoid accusations of political bias, annenberg had inquirer use news agency sources such associated press 1960 , 1968 presidential elections. when nixon elected president in 1968, annenberg appointed u.s. ambassador court of st. james s. year later when annenberg sold newspaper knight newspapers, part of deal stipulated annenberg s name appear editor , publisher emeritus in inquirer s masthead. in 1970, annenberg, unhappy changes in newspaper, had name removed paper after editorial critical of richard nixon appeared.

under knight ridder, inquirer continued editorially independent. however, conservative commentators have labeled inquirer left leaning, , paper has not endorsed republican candidate president of united states since gerald ford in 1976. throughout 1990s , 21st century, groups supportive of israel such zionist organization of america accused inquirer of being anti-israel. @ same time, edward s. herman, university of pennsylvania media analyst, has written many articles accusing inquirer of having given in conservative pressure , including conservative slant in paper s reporting , editorial page. in 2006, inquirer became 1 of major united states newspapers print 1 of jyllands-posten muhammad cartoons. afterwards, protesting printing of cartoon, muslims picketed outside inquirer building.

the former strawbridge & clothier building @ 801 market street, inquirer , daily news offices located.

when philadelphia media holdings l.l.c. (pmh) bought paper in 2006, brian p. tierney , business people behind pmh signed pledge promising not influence content of paper. tierney, republican activist had represented many local groups in philadelphia area, had criticized inquirer in past on behalf of clients. 1 of tierney s clients had been roman catholic archdiocese of philadelphia, had represented during cipriano affair. pmh membership included bruce e. toll, vice chairman of toll brothers inc. tierney said group aware fastest way ruin investment in inquirer threaten paper s editorial independence. 2012 sale of philadelphia media network 6 local business leaders led concern of conflict of interest. new owners, included new jersey democratic fundraiser george norcross iii, media entrepreneur h. f. lenfest, former new jersey nets owner lewis katz, , ceo of liberty property trust , chairman of greater philadelphia chamber of commerce william hankowsky, pledged not influence content of paper.