East Valley Tribune Announces Potential Buyer Two Weeks After Announcing it Would Be Shutting Down December 31

The East Valley Tribune may have a new lease on life, just two weeks after the failing publication announced it would be closing its doors on December 31.At the time of the closure, Trib CFO Mark McEachen told employees that the closing might be "a good marketing tool" to lure...

By James King

November 20, 2009

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "18478561",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "16759093",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "17980324",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "16759092",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "17980324",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 24
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "16759094",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 24
        }
      ]

The East Valley Tribune may have a new lease on life, just two weeks after the failing publication announced it would be closing its doors on December 31.

At the time of the closure, Trib CFO Mark McEachen told employees that the closing might be "a good marketing tool" to lure potential buyers, and he may have been right.

Trib publisher Julie Moreno announced Friday that the paper's parent company, Freedom Communications, had received a letter of intent from someone interested in buying the paper, the Tribune reports today.

Heat City reports that "Freedom considers [the deal] serious and is supportive of it."

The potential buyer has not been identified, but Moreno says the buyer plans to keep a "substantial number" of the paper's current employees.

Freedom is operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy, so the company will have to bring the offer to a judge before any deal is approved.

KEEP NEW TIMES FREE... Since we started New Times, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Phoenix, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.