Tribune Company Scribes: Koch Brothers Purchase Could Turn Papers Into "Conservative Mouthpiece"

[Fire Walk With Me]

"Could" (People unclear on the plutonomy concept...)


http://mediamatters.org/blog/2013/04/23/tribune-company-scribes-koch-brothers-purchase/193720

New reports that the politically conservative Koch brothers are interested in buying the Tribune Company's eight regional newspapers -- which include the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune -- are sparking concerns from newspaper staff members that attempts to influence the editorial process in favor of their far-right political views may follow.

Among those concerned is Clarence Page, a top Chicago Tribune columnist, who said he would oppose a takeover of the paper by David and Charles Koch because of "the fact that they seem to be coming in upfront with the idea of using a major news media as a vehicle for their political voice."

Since Sunday, both The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal have reported that the Kochs are among leading contenders to purchase the newspapers from the financially troubled Tribune Company.

In addition to the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune, the Kochs are reportedly seeking to buy The Baltimore Sun, the Orlando Sentinel, the South Florida Sun Sentinel, The Hartford Courant (Hartford, CT), The Morning Call (Allentown, PA), and the Daily Press (Hampton Roads, VA).

(More at the link.)

[Gidney N Cloyd]

1. The Trib's op-eds tilt conservative but not RWNJ teabaggery. And the reporting is top notch.

I really dread the idea of what the Kochs would do to it. There are lots of columns and stories that I'll bet the current and recent publishers have gritted their teeth while sending them to print. But they were sent to print. People who are sick with power like the Kochs are seldom so accommodating.

[Fire Walk With Me]

2. Disney bought a news network and had them shelve anti-Disney stories. n/t