SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - A group of former employees of The Salt Lake Tribune have filed a lawsuit to suspend the newspaper's joint operating agreement with the Deseret News, arguing that the terms violate federal antitrust laws and undermine the Tribune's independent voice.
The 30-page lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court on Monday says the agreement that was revised in October gives too much control to the Deseret News, which is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The group previously sent a letter asking the U.S. Justice Department to review the recently revised 6 decade old agreement between Salt Lake City's two daily newspapers.
Under the revised agreement, the Deseret News bought the Tribune's share of a printing plant and will get 70% of the profits, up from 42% before.