Philadelphia Daily News to Become “Edition” of Inquirer

Philadelphia Daily News CEO Briany Tierney, featured on the cover after he purchased both the Daily News and the Inquirer.

A week after the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News parent Philadelphia Media Holdings (PMH) filed for bankruptcy, PMH has announced that the Daily News will be published as an edition of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

According to PMH CEO Brian Tierney, the change will save money on wire services by allowing the two daily newspapers to act as a single subscriber.

“Instead of telling advertisers we have 330,00 circulation (at the Inquirer) plus the Daily News, it will help to say we have 440,000 daily circulation,” Tierney said.

The company already rolls its web traffic together through Philly.com.

Although rumors remain persistent about the shuttering of the Daily News, editor Michael Days wants to make it clear that this is largely an accounting change, and is not a sign of the demise Daily News’.

“Nothing is going to change about our passionate voices, about how we do what we do,” Days said. “We’ll be a unique edition of the Inquirer, and the emphasis is on unique.”

According to Daily News publisher Mark Frisby, although the announcement comes just a week after PMH has filed for bankruptcy protection, the change has been under consideration for about a year.

The change will take effect March 30.