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LA Times Looks at Deseret News' Woes, Salt Lake Newspaper Battle
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- A Los Angeles Times article, reprinted
recently in the Salt Lake Tribune, looks at the difficulties faced by
the Deseret News and the current battle between the newspaper and the
Salt Lake Tribune. Times reporter Gorman suggests that the News is an
anachronism, unabashedly embracing the values of its owner, the LDS
Church. Deserved or not, the News is widely believed to be the
editorial mouthpiece of the church, and to slant its news coverage
accordingly. And in some areas this is true, with church authorities
approving editorials and news coverage weighed against moral
standards. But these policies may cost readers, with even many LDS
Church members claiming that the paper's coverage is too slanted
toward the Church. But Gorman also notes the perception that the Salt
Lake Tribune, the News' competitor and partner in a joint operating
agreement (JOA), is unnecessarily critical of the LDS Church.
These perceptions are complicated by the fact that the two newspapers
share printing, distribution and advertising sales under the JOA,
tying them together in an arrangement that keeps both from true
independence. Further complication came when the Tribune was
purchased by Denver's MediaNews Group in a move that the Tribune's
current managers, who claim to have an option to repurchase the
newspaper this summer, say was influenced by the LDS Church.
Source:
Deseret News Still Struggling To Get Respect
Salt Lake Tribune (Los Angeles Times) 24Feb02 US UT SLC B4
By Tom Gorman: Los Angeles Times
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