Newly named publisher of LNP | LancasterOnline to focus on growing digital revenue

• By Chad Umble / LNP | LancasterOnline

Digby Solomon, a veteran journalist and longtime media executive, has been named interim publisher of LNP | LancasterOnline, the top executive position at the media company.

Solomon, who had been a board member of LNP Media Group for more than two years, began working as publisher last week. He fills a position that has been vacant since June 2023, when LNP Media Group, which publishes LNP | LancasterOnline, was gifted to public broadcaster WITF by Steinman Communications. LNP | LancasterOnline’s last publisher was Robert Krasne.

As publisher, Solomon will oversee editorial and sales departments. “It’s primarily a business function,” he said in an interview.

Solomon declined to specify possible changes he would look to make or if they could include staffing cuts.

“It’s premature to talk about some of the things that probably could use some improvement,” he said. “We may find places where we are spending money unprofitably that can be diverted to other things.”

Solomon said he has committed to staying on until at least February and that part of his duties will be to help find someone to permanently fill the role. He said the main part of his job, though, will be to “position LNP for the digital age.”

“The real trick is, how do you make digital revenue large enough that you can support a good-sized newsroom?” he said. “You really need a robust business and revenue stream to really be able to maintain a strong newsroom and provide services to advertisers. … Some people are closer than others, and I think we’ve got a good head start, but there’s more work to be done.”

Contrasting his new position to that of a consultant, Solomon said that consultants only advise, but a publisher can actually make change happen.

“(Consultants) don’t actually execute. The publisher executes,” he said.

Solomon, 72, lives in Williamsburg, Virginia, and said he plans to work in LNP’s Lancaster city office two or three times a week and then spend the rest of the time working remotely.

45-year career

At the beginning of his 45-year career in journalism, Solomon worked as a Latin American correspondent for United Press International. He has also been an assistant news director for a television station in Virginia, where he also briefly owned a radio station.

Solomon spent most of his career holding management and executive roles with Tribune Publishing, including as a publisher for Hoy Newspaper, a Spanish language newspaper in Chicago. He was also publisher for Tribune’s Spanish-language newspapers in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. In a senior role at the Chicago Tribune, he oversaw digital products.

In January, Solomon started Williamsburg Watch, a Substack focused on news in his hometown. Solomon, who joined the LNP | LancasterOnline board of directors in April 2023, stepped down from the board to become publisher.

“Our team embraces the opportunity to work alongside someone with significant experience in the news industry to strengthen and protect local journalism in Lancaster County,” said Tom Murse, executive editor of LNP | LancasterOnline and vice president of journalism at Pennon, the parent company of LNP Media Group.

“Protecting and strengthening the future of local journalism in Lancaster County is critical,” said Chris Fidler, general manager of LNP Media Group as well as a board member. “We welcome the opportunity to work alongside someone with deep experience in the news industry to ensure our community continues to have access to trusted, independent reporting. We look forward to the added perspective as we move forward in this important work.”

WITF and LNP | LancasterOnline operate a single newsroom under Pennon. Ron Hetrick, president and CEO of Pennon, appointed Solomon to his new position and announced the change in an email sent to staff Monday.

“We’re grateful for Digby’s leadership experience guiding a local news organization through times of change,” Hetrick said in an email Tuesday. “His ability to recognize the uniqueness of a community and align journalism resources to support it, along with his track record of launching new platforms and products, will strengthen our work and position us well for the future.”

Hetrick said the terms of Solomon’s compensation, which is being paid by LNP Media Group, aren’t being disclosed.

Solomon also declined to say how much money he is making but said it is much less than he has made in previous executive roles.

“This is not something I’m doing for the money,” he said.

Journalists at Pennon are currently negotiating a union contract with the company, after voting to unionize with the NewsGuild of Greater Philadelphia, Local 38010, in February.

NewsGuild Executive Director Bill Ross said he didn’t know how Solomon might be involved in contract negotiations but described his appointment as a good sign.

“It kind of signals that there is a seriousness about continuing local news coverage.” Ross said. “And (Solomon’s) background clearly shows that he has experience working with and growing different news organizations.”