Koch Brothers May Buy Tribune Company

The multi-billionaire Koch Brothers are reportedly considering purchasing the Tribune Company, which owns eighteen daily newspapers including the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune. Acccording to one report, the buy is being orchestrated by hotel magnate Doug Manchester, the infamous backer of Proposition 8 who later bought San Diego's Union-Tribune.

Melissa Cohlmia, a spokeswoman for Koch Companies Public Sector, said in a statement: "As an entrepreneurial company with 60,000 employees around the world, we are constantly exploring profitable opportunities in many industries and sectors. "So, it is natural that our name would come up in connection with this rumor. We respect the independence of the journalistic institutions referenced in today's news stories, but it is our long-standing policy not to comment on deals or rumors of deals we may or may not be exploring."

Manchester is denying any partnership with the Koch Brothers and the Tribune Company has declined to comment.  Other papers in the Tribune group include the Orlando Sentinel, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the Baltimore Sun, and the Hartford Courant.