SALT LAKE CITY — The wealthy Huntsman family is buying The Salt Lake Tribune.
In a statement on Wednesday, Digital First Media, which currently owns the newspaper, said it was selling it to Paul Huntsman, a son of industrialist Jon Huntsman, Sr.
“We are honored to be stewards of The Salt Lake Tribune. It is important that The Salt Lake Tribune continues in its indispensable role for our community and to be locally owned,” Hunstman said in the statement released through Digital First Media. “We hope to ensure the Tribune’s independent voice for future generations and are thrilled to own a business of this quality and stature.”
Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The Tribune has a joint operating agreement with the Deseret News, which is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is unknown if the deal would include a reworking of that agreement.
“We have great respect for Paul Huntsman and the Huntsman family. The Salt Lake Tribune will be in the hands of strong local management. We wish Paul Huntsman, the Huntsman family and our partners at the Deseret News the best,” Digital First Media CEO Steve Rossi said in the statement.
A 2013 revised joint operating agreement between the Tribune and Deseret News sparked federal lawsuit that claimed it would lead to the Tribune’s death. The U.S. Justice Department was also looking into whether the agreement had run afoul of anti-trust laws.
