Wichita Eagle | 02/07/2006 | Gannett considering partnership with MediaNews in possible Knight Ridder sale

"MediaNews Group is discussing a possible alliance with Gannett, the nation's largest newspaper chain, to acquire Knight Ridder, the San Jose newspaper company that put itself up for sale under pressure from shareholders. Knight Ridder owns the Wichita Eagle, the Kansas City Star and 30 other newspapers. Sources confirmed that MediaNews, a privately held Denver-based newspaper chain, is in talks with Gannett regarding Knight Ridder, the nation's second largest newspaper company. MediaNews, the seventh-largest newspaper publisher, needs partners to finance a bid for Knight Ridder and has already teamed up with three private equity firms. Gannett canceled two days of meetings with Knight Ridder that were to take place last week. "