Silberman, Washington Post editor who launched weekly biz section, dies at 93

Peter Silberman, a former Washington Post editor who started its weekly business section, died Thursday at the age of 93.

Adam Bernstein of the Post writes, “After joining The Post in 1960, Mr. Silberman spent more than three decades at the newspaper, mainly as an editor and initially on the foreign and national desks. Later, as assistant managing editor for financial news, he expanded coverage by launching the weekly Washington Business section in 1980. He subsequently directed the national staff during the run-up to the 1984 presidential election.

“Leonard Downie Jr., who worked under Mr. Silberman on the national staff and later served as executive editor, recalled Mr. Silberman as an unusually soft-spoken figure in the hubbub of the newsroom and a steady, calming presence amid deadline pressures and sometimes fragile egos.

“Downie said Mr. Silberman earned the affection of his staff with his self-effacement, sound judgment and ability to delegate — qualities that also made him an “ideal choice” for the No. 3 job of deputy managing editor. In that post, Mr. Silberman focused on weekly sections while also sometimes running the newspaper’s daily operations and handling some personnel matters.”

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