This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2013/may/09/rupert-murdoch-los-angeles-times

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Petition aims to stop right-wingers from acquiring US newspapers Petition aims to stop right-wingers from acquiring US newspapers
(5 months later)
Fears that the billionaire industrialists, Charles and David Koch, might acquire the Tribune Company have prompted a large-scale petition opposing their potential takeover.Fears that the billionaire industrialists, Charles and David Koch, might acquire the Tribune Company have prompted a large-scale petition opposing their potential takeover.
A diverse coalition of groups - including public bodies, politicians, trade union groups and more than 250,000 individuals - have signed the petition in protest about the possibility of either a Koch takeover or one by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation.A diverse coalition of groups - including public bodies, politicians, trade union groups and more than 250,000 individuals - have signed the petition in protest about the possibility of either a Koch takeover or one by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation.
It has been organised by the liberal website Daily Kos and the online human rights organisation, the Courage Campaign.It has been organised by the liberal website Daily Kos and the online human rights organisation, the Courage Campaign.
The signatories call on Tribune's board, shareholders and bankers not to sell the company's eight large regional daily titles to the Koch brothers, Murdoch "or other potential buyers who cannot be trusted to accurately provide information to the public."The signatories call on Tribune's board, shareholders and bankers not to sell the company's eight large regional daily titles to the Koch brothers, Murdoch "or other potential buyers who cannot be trusted to accurately provide information to the public."
The right-wing Koch brothers have been "exploring a bid" to buy the Tribune stable, which includes the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune and Baltimore Sun. Murdoch has shown interest only in the LA Times.The right-wing Koch brothers have been "exploring a bid" to buy the Tribune stable, which includes the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune and Baltimore Sun. Murdoch has shown interest only in the LA Times.
A coalition statement emailed to me says: "Ownership by two of the most influential and radical right wing ideologues in the country will skew trusted news sources to further their interests and debase our democracy.A coalition statement emailed to me says: "Ownership by two of the most influential and radical right wing ideologues in the country will skew trusted news sources to further their interests and debase our democracy.
"Any news outlet owned by such intensely partisan activists could not be trusted to provide an honest account of a wide variety of issues that are of vital importance to the public.""Any news outlet owned by such intensely partisan activists could not be trusted to provide an honest account of a wide variety of issues that are of vital importance to the public."
The statement goes on to say:The statement goes on to say:
"We already know what happens to news coverage when the ideology of an owner is placed over informing the public. This sale would create another Rupert Murdoch, and make papers like the LA Times and Chicago Tribune look more like Fox News and the New York Post.""We already know what happens to news coverage when the ideology of an owner is placed over informing the public. This sale would create another Rupert Murdoch, and make papers like the LA Times and Chicago Tribune look more like Fox News and the New York Post."
Critics have also written to Bruce Karsh, chairman of the Tribune board and president of Oaktree Capital Management, the company's major shareholder that holds union pension fund investments.Critics have also written to Bruce Karsh, chairman of the Tribune board and president of Oaktree Capital Management, the company's major shareholder that holds union pension fund investments.
The letter says a sale to the Koch brothers would;d give them "a powerful and influential platform by which to promote.. [the] enactment of their anti-public pension fund policies."The letter says a sale to the Koch brothers would;d give them "a powerful and influential platform by which to promote.. [the] enactment of their anti-public pension fund policies."
On Wednesday, demonstrators protested outside the headquarters of the Chicago Tribune about the possibility of a Koch takeover. And a rally is planned in Los Angeles next Tuesday with posters saying: "No Koch hate in LA: Stop the Koch takeover of the LA Times".On Wednesday, demonstrators protested outside the headquarters of the Chicago Tribune about the possibility of a Koch takeover. And a rally is planned in Los Angeles next Tuesday with posters saying: "No Koch hate in LA: Stop the Koch takeover of the LA Times".
Sources: New York Times/Hollywood ReporterSources: New York Times/Hollywood Reporter
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.