born american advertising public relations executive publisher philadelphia_inquirer born pennsylvania created largest successful public relations advertising firms philadelphia pennsylvania sold left currently serves chief executive officer founded bought previous owners help venture firm early years public relations advocate clients known occasionally contacting reporters editors believed evidence bias surrounding negative story clients years acquired left founded public relations firm sold months later assembled group investors form group started purpose buying philadelphia_inquirer chief executive publisher philadelphia_inquirer shortly bought paper initially concerns neutrality earlier roles held working republican politics clashes reporters fears hiring respected journalist time pulitzer prize winner editor signing pledge interfere editorial content newspapers editorial quality improved paper returned roots investigative stories initially circulation increased advertising sales improved daily news won pulitzer prize investigative journalism series stories corrupt philadelphia financial crisis led steep drop advertising revenue time circulation dropped readers migrated internet newspaper values country percent group bought paper market heavy debt burden result forced file bankruptcy protection bankruptcy code april philadelphia_inquirer daily_news sold bankruptcy auction group original funds vulture investors led million stepped position ceo company order allow smooth transition news accounts tenure called unlikely warrior accounts said tenure ceo measures rated success credit trying fall went marketing public relations roots launching purchasing company specializing digital marketing services brands include cnn toys fast growing firm moved summer old office space outside business active politics supporter republican causes working ronald_reagan administration 1980s worked presidential election campaign run philadelphia mayor active member numerous board directors including serves chairman early life fourth sons james growing pennsylvania attended later seven family moved pennsylvania age eighteen unsuccessfully sought democratic nomination township commissioner springfield campaign supporters opponent democratic primary torn campaign posters stole campaign items republican primary republicans said look stuff primary campaign invited party meeting graduated political science ran campaign age moved washington worked positions including messenger ronald_reagan administration republican candidates country moved philadelphia region reagan public affairs office received law degree married children public relations earning law degree founded financed credit card sold company stayed time turned president ceo public relations division left founded public relations company people people remembers saying need look charging charge clients hour told crazy responded going best need charge people accordingly company quickly grew million thirty employees offices cities association chicago based deal control renamed renamed built company largest public relations advertising firms clients included mcdonald company created award winning advertising campaign starring slogan philadelphia place loves advertising campaigns included wrapping giant philadelphia city hall promote campaign prevent hostile takeover affair promotions advocate behalf clients targeted news reporters contact news editors complain coverage clients accusing news reporters biased incompetent notable complaints reporters directed philadelphia reporter philadelphia_inquirer religion reporter year time called times behalf client philadelphia leaving religion reporter position wrote articles sunday paper wrote profile cardinal profile turned investigative piece obtained documents detailing million questionable spending church spending millions suburbs cutting inner city services worked piece editors winner contacted accused inaccurate facts creating protest vacation home new_jersey denies says indicated gotten removed religion reporter position position says thought left according indicated involved story philadelphia start public relations campaign ruin philadelphia_inquirer charge denies story originally wanted published accused report giving demands eventually published editor accused bias able prove stories said strong personal point view agenda things didn publish wrote didn think prove sued libel case later settled court interview credited stopping story noted philadelphia_inquirer stories positive named knight order gregory great pope later ventures later renamed bought continued ceo april stepped continued chairman december resigned announced founding new public relations firm lasted june announced bought credit card company management hired vice chairman february announced longer serving vice chairman company gave explanation lost position employment company ended month attempted buy magazines failed tried enter media industry march assembled group clients people board buy local businessman formed bought philadelphia_inquirer million selling newspapers low growth markets buying parent company met skepticism especially reporters contacted past behalf clients fears members signing pledge interfere paper editorial independence said combat decreasing revenue spending millions advertisements promotions laying staff assumed role publisher philadelphia_inquirer august publisher resigned job circulation dropping 1980s briefly seeing rise weekday circulation philadelphia_inquirer weekday sunday circulation continued steadily drop bought paper loss circulation combined unexpected drop advertising revenue forced job cuts bought financial situation worsened employees began complaining management monitoring things bathroom breaks coffee drink patrolling parking garage seeing time employees arrive work despite efforts manage financial strain february subsidiary owns paper filled chapter bankruptcy protection company hoped million debt borrowed buy newspapers end result papers auctioned company beginning saw filing lawsuit accused philadelphia writing critical stories use public funds business negotiations school operator failed activities continued political activism 1990s early 2000s local national campaigns headed outreach catholics presidential election credited helping generate votes bush helping win important states like ohio missouri frequently appeared conservative voice inside story headed campaign mayor philadelphia lost incumbent mayor campaign involved highly publicized dispute political consultant friend worked run mayor left campaign unable work saying self promoter praised said optimism said great asset things going poorly campaign personal life member numerous board directors philadelphia area boards member board played important role company turnaround decision dramatically increase marketing budget member board board directors buy land square pennsylvania school school board trustees approved preliminary step buying acres farmland square fellow board member led ninety day campaign raise million needed property named pennsylvania report list influential figures pennsylvania named list politically influential individuals named list politically individuals called potential statewide candidate
Brian Tierney