Herald, Regan split

Published Mar 13 2008, 08:04 PM by Adam Reilly

This is interesting: the Boston Herald and PR czar George Regan are parting ways. In response to an inquiry from the Phoenix, Herald publisher Pat Purcell released the following statement this afternoon:

I am announcing today that Herald Media Inc. no longer retains Regan Communications Group as its agency of record. Our public relations functions are now handled in-house.

George Regan’s business in the Boston area and beyond has grown considerably and his client list includes many corporations and organizations we report on. As a newsgathering operation, it is imperative that our coverage continues to be impartial and in recognition of Regan Communications’ tremendous expansion, ending our relationship avoids any potential conflict.

George has been a personal friend of my family for over two decades, and we look forward to enjoying that relationship for many years to come.

Through Herald spokeswoman Gwen Gage, Purcell declined further comment.

The statement from Regan Communications, meanwhile, came from GM Stephen Dunleavy, who said:

We've had a good relationship with the Herald, and we continue to have a good relationship with the Herald and Pat. That hasn't changed. They brought the PR function in house, and we understand that.

Dunleavy added that the split was a "mutual decision."