Posted by Vicki Elter.
The US Justice Department sued to stop Tribune Publishing Co. from buying the Orange County Register and a Southern California newspaper, which were both bankrupt. The department explained that this sale would end competition for both readers and advertisers in this area.
Last year, the Tribune Publishing Co. purchased the Los Angeles Times and San Diego Union. With this past sale, and this potential sale of these two other newspapers, the Tribune would have control over the top four largest daily newspapers in Southern California, and would therefore, have a monopoly. The newspaper industry has already faced great struggles due to digital innovations with the internet, and so this purchase would only make things worse.
This deal would create a loss of numerous jobs, and additionally, the Tribune could raise subscription prices as well as advertising rates. Instead of having multiple editors and news companies to benefit the communities, there would only be one editor for a huge area of Southern California. Therefore, this purchase would contribute to a bias in the news.
Vicki is an accounting and management major at the Stillman School of Business, Seton Hall University, Class of 2019.