Delaware Live reorganization continues as Osborne replaces Price in editor role

Veteran local journalist Peter Osborne has joined the Delaware LIVE News Group as interim senior editor.

He replaces founding senior editor Betsy Price, who is happily ceding the job but will continue to freelance for Town Square LIVE.

Price expects to enjoy a life free of the multiple daily deadlines required in her 45-year career in journalism in Delaware and Alabama.

“I look forward to seeing how Delaware LIVE evolves with Peter leading the reporting team and the more active involvement of the advisory board,” she said. “And I’m delighted to be able to keep my hand in a little by focusing on the Town Square site.”

Osborne’s appointment comes amid a broader Delaware Live reorganization. The company started publishing in June 2020.

“We were very fortunate to have Betsy shepherd the initial growth of Delaware Live and grateful for her award-winning effort,” said Delaware LIVE owner Chris Kenny. “Given Peter’s extensive background, I am confident we have made the right decision to lead the newsroom forward through the next phase of growth.“

Meet the new editor

Osborne is no stranger to the media group, which owns Delaware LIVE, Town Square LIVE, Milford LIVE, and Chadds Ford LIVE.

In 2023, he wrote a story for Delaware LIVE on the conversion of downtown Wilmington office space to residential use, which won first place in the Delaware Press Association and second place in the National Federation of Press Women contests.

“I’m looking forward to building on the great work that Betsy and her team have done building Delaware LIVE into the First State’s preeminent micro-news platform,” Osborne said. “I think you’ll see a greater emphasis on business news and on coverage of how state and local governments are impacting (and not always in a positive way) the everyday lives of local citizens. I also look forward to re-engaging with the businesses, nonprofits and educators that I’ve worked with over the years.”

Osborne’s experience includes 15-plus years as an award-winning business journalist at publications nationwide and 20-plus years in strategic corporate communications and business development for MBNA America and Bank of America.

He revitalized or launched more than a dozen business journals, earning national “Most Improved Publication” awards at the Delaware Business Times in 2020 and at the Dallas (TX) Business Journal 30 years earlier. He’s also won individual writing and reporting awards.

He also helped launch the News Journal’s now-defunct Business Monday section.

A graduate of Syracuse University and native of Buffalo, New York, Peter is married with four grown children. He’s also a proud member of the Bills Mafia.

More detail on Delaware Live reorganization

In the Delaware Live reorganization, Kenny will become CEO and president and take over as editor-in-chief. He will handle the business’s administrative, finance and HR functions, and plans to expand the number of local sites and the size of the staff.

George D. Rotsch, a veteran marketing and communications strategist, has been promoted to vice president of client communications and interim publisher of the four websites.

The group also has added an advisory board of seasoned professionals: John Sweeney, former Wilmington News Journal editorial page editor; Peggy Mika, former marketing director and newspaper reporter and editor; Mike Mika, a digital marketing consultant who helped lead the migration of news from paper to digital at The News Journal; and Vernon Proctor, a retired corporate lawyer and president of the Bethel Town Council. It will be looking to add additional members in the coming months who reflect the readership of the publications.

Delaware LIVE’s network of local news publications is approaching 100,000 regular readers across multiple communication channels.

Have a story idea or comment?

Contact Osborne at [email protected].

Contact Price at [email protected].