President and Publisher to Leave Newsweek

EXCLUSIVE

Greg Osberg, Newsweek’s president and worldwide publisher, is leaving the Washington Post Company, FOLIO: has learned.

Osberg told FOLIO: Tuesday that he plans to stay on at Newsweek until early fall. No successor has been named, though Jon Meacham, the magazine’s editor, would figure to be a prime candidate—at least for the president part.

A Washington Post Company spokesperson said the decision would be made by Newsweek. A spokesperson for Newsweek did not immediately return a request seeking comment.

Osberg joined Newsweek in 1990 as associate advertising director, then vice president/associate publisher. He left Newsweek in 1997 to become president of sales and marketing at CNET, but came back in 2000 to focus on building out the company’s international editions and Newsweek.com.

“I’ve made it no secret that I have a passion for the digital space,” Osberg said. “I’ve always wanted to return there.” Osberg said he had made the decision a couple months ago, but that the company had “wanted to keep it quiet.”

He declined to say what his next move would be, but said it would most likely not be in the magazine industry.

Osberg’s departure comes at a tenuous time for the newsweekly category. Through June, advertising pages were down 22.2 percent over the same period in 2007, according to Publishers Information Bureau figures. At Newsweek-rival Time, pages were down 21 percent; U.S. News and World Report—which recently announced it will become a biweekly in 2009—saw a 30 percent drop.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Check FOLIOmag.com throughout the day for updates to this story.]

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Newsweak

Submitted by Brad on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 03:32.

I also read and enjoyed Newsweek back in the 1970s's. It was on the left then, but they didn't make an editorial out of every article. Like MSM news the last couple of days - oil price mysteriously falls sharply - no mention of the President ending the executive order banning offshore drilling as a possible influence. They think we are morons.

You can't handle the truth! - Give us Newsweek and Meacham

Submitted by Steve J on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 04:31.

There's a lynching going on. Newsweek has always had the most solid journalism of any weekly, and still does. Meacham is as bright as anyone running for president this year. Watch him on t.v. on "Meet The Press" and elsewhere. There is a predominant RED state bias against Newsweek. That's hardly the same as pointing out how RED FXN or Rush Limbaugh and talk radio is so RIGHT wing that there seems to be no hope for he media. Voters want to know the truth. We are sick of the spin, we are sick of the powerful Right Wing commentators on Fox and radio and expect some respect. You, of the Right who support Bush and defend the war in Iraq, already have your wealth. There are people here who are unemployed and some with families who are starving. Are you better off now than you were nearly 8 years ago?

Pravda

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 04:57.

Don't worry Newsweek, when the bubbleheads vote Obama in he will soon switch you to a state run media and force all good citizens to subscribe!

No balance

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 05:44.

Newsweek leans left too much need more rightness, you know fair and balanced.

Decline of the American Empire

Submitted by Judge Crater on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 06:09.

Newsweek, Time Magazine and all the newspapers that are cutting staff and newshole are a sign of the decline of the United States. Readership is going down not only because of the migration to the Internet and the increase in ESL readers who prefer their news in another language, but because people have so little leisure time, between long commutes, second jobs and general fatigue. Seven years of corrupt Bush rule, where big problems such as energy price gouging are swept under the rug. As the total tax load on US citizens goes up, talking about rightwing or leftwing editorial tilt makes no sense, everyone is hammered by the actions of the mostly incompetent, high paid do-nothing bureaucrats in Washington, DC. Newsweek cutbacks are just a sign of the problem, too little leisure time for potential readers, too little discretionary income to renew a subscription and a news magazine hit hard by inflationary increases in the price of newsprint and postage.

Get a Clue

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 06:11.

What a bunch of geniuses, that magazine it so slanted and flat out wrong everything should have been put through a giant inverter - then one would have read some truth.

Newsweek

Submitted by Chris on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 06:11.

TIME is next on the dinosaur list.

Newsweek

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 06:17.

Wow, even this supposedly BHO loving country 52 consecutive covers with the prophet Obama on the cover did not help. Go figure...

Evan Thomas, Asst Managing Editor Newsweek

Submitted by Skeptic on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 06:59.

The Duke LaCross Framing. "The narrative was properly about race, sex and class.... We went a beat too fast in assuming that a rape took place.... We just got the facts wrong. The narrative was right, but the facts were wrong." How could that editorial philosophy possibly lead to a loss of readership? Another mystery for the ages.

40 Years Ago Newsweek/Time were Relevant

Submitted by Gerald Fruzia on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 07:35.

I used to read these news magazines, but now I go to the Internet several times a day. I no longer take the Houston Chronicle, but read it online. I listen to talk radio daily. If I were to subscribe to any publication, it would be the Wall Street Journal, for it seems to be straight forward in content.....which is another way of saying it has maintained its integrity as a news source.

Anti-Semitism, Gee Wow & Tired...

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 11:11.

First of all what is that anti-semitic comment about the United Jewish Appeal doing on this commentary? And Wow's comments on Fox News and Bill O'Reilly are typical of those who don't watch this #1 cable news channel. Why is it #1? Because Fox always has opposing views or panels in discussion (Democratic and Republican oundits). Have you ever seen Hannity and Colms? This is what really lets people decide for themselves, actual fact based decision making, not emotional. And it is not just for conservatives, there are plenty of rational people out there who consider themselves middle of the roaders who are craving to hear both sides - adults who want to make their own decisions. And someone should tell Tired Comments about the fact that the Democratic majority in Congress has only a 6% approval rating. That this country is great right now, we just liberated the people of Iraq (no matter how you feel about the subject). Oh and good luck to us with the prospect of a liberal flip-flop inexperienced black president who hasn't the smarts to protect us from our enemies (I guess then none of this will matter because we will all be goners like my fellow NYC'ers on 9/11)

And the right wing takeover

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 12:00.

And the right wing takeover marches on.. They are the reason nobody believes our media anymore. Right wing has the TV, radio, newspapers and govt but people are fed up ..We have learned the hard way, if a its republican , always verify .I havent found one honest republican and throw in some blue dog dems in there too. Newsweek was honest but got caught up in the downfall of our media. Too bad..

Inaugural Issue Jan 24, 2005

Submitted by Pat on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 16:14.

Liberal of not, it's just crap. This jan 24, 2005 Inaugural Issue was the last one I opened. I tossed the remaining ones that were delivered directly into the trash. It was the shear blantancy with which they insulted the readers that got me. Talk about audacity. I invite you to find it in your library. Richard Wolffe was the new Senior White House correspondent and his ridiculous cover story was so outrageous, I can't possibly convey it here. I doubt any of you will think it had a liberal bias. What you will note, is that Mark Whitaker et al. had clearly decided ALL readers were imbeciles. I had been bothered by much of it for some time, but this was the straw. I am actually quite liberal myself, but I wouldn't spend one second of my time reading, watching, or listening to any MSNBC "news"since that issue. If you are a liberal, please check this out. I'm sure you will never listen to another word Richard Wolffe has to say. I understand he is a frequent guest on that other a-hole's show-Olbermann. I am a life-long Democrat, and I don't care what side their peddling-the media has lost it's way. We are screwed.

Oops

Submitted by Pat on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 21:31.

I am tempted to use my granddaughter's OMG here. So vain. I can't see well and I can't type well. I do, however, know that it's OR not, Jan, sheer blatancy, Liberal, lifelong and most embarrassing of all, they're. Just forget about the punctuation. I obviously rely too much on the usual chance to preview and edit. Sorry.

look at all the right wing morons

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 07/18/2008 - 10:40.

attracted like flies to a turd... can't wait for you relics to die off...

Leftwing propaganda and hero

Submitted by pat on Sun, 07/20/2008 - 12:03.

Leftwing propaganda and hero worship become tiresome.

Whuuut?

Submitted by Barkmor on Sun, 07/20/2008 - 12:52.

Newsweek? Sorry, never heard of it.