KWH hosts 'Philadelphia Inquirer' managing editor
The Daily Pennsylvanian
January 28th, 2009
An "energetic, dogged newsman" will speak at the Kelly Writers House today, according to Philadelphia Inquirer columnist and Penn artist-in-residence Dick Polman.
These words describe Polman's longtime colleague and current Deputy Managing Editor for News and Multimedia at The Philadelphia Inquirer Vernon Loeb.
Students and faculty alike will eat lunch as Loeb speaks about his news career and the challenges facing newspapers today. He will focus especially on the need for newspapers to connect with younger generations.
Polman commended Loeb as an enthusiastic journalist who "cares deeply about news and 'good stories.'"
He explained that as a veteran journalist in a difficult time for the newspaper industry, Loeb is known for asking tough questions.
During his 16 years at the Inquirer, Loeb worked most notably as a foreign correspondent based in Manila, Phillippines, covering such events as the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, the Persian Gulf War and the Iraqi missile attack on Tel Aviv in 1991.
During his domestic stints, Loeb covered the terms of four Philadelphia mayors and served as the Inquirer's City Hall bureau chief from 1985-1989 and 1992-1994.
A former staff writer for The Washington Post, Loeb covered the U.S. Defense Department and the relationship between the intelligence community and national security. He has also served as managing investigator for The Los Angeles Times.
Polman said Loeb's reputation for being tireless, his dedication to the Inquirer and his commitment to the survival of newspapers speak volumes about this seasoned talent who has worked at all levels of the news media.