facebook-pixel

A brief history of Salt Lake Tribune owners since its birth — with photos of the paper through the years

Salt Lake Tribune - Historical File WWII Surrender Page Two persons are standing near The Salt Lake Tribune newspapers stall.

1870 • The Salt Lake Tribune was founded by three businessmen estranged from the LDS Church. It was called the Mormon Tribune for its first year.

1871 • Name changed to Salt Lake Daily Tribune.

1873 • Three Kansas businessmen buy The Tribune and turn it into an anti-Mormon newspaper.

1901 • U.S. Sen. Thomas Kearns and business partner David Keith buy the paper.

1918 • The Kearns family buys the Keith family's interest after David Keith's death.

1997 • The Kearns/McCarthey family sells Kearns-Tribune to Telecommunications Inc. (TCI) in $731 million stock deal, expecting to be able to buy it back later.

1999 • TCI is purchased by AT&T.

2000 • MediaNews Group buys The Tribune from AT&T, triggering a lawsuit by the McCartheys.

2007 • The McCarthey family agrees to end all lawsuits against MediaNews Group.

2010 • After MediaNews Group's bankruptcy, ownership of The Tribune shifts to Alden Global Capital, a New York City hedge fund.

2016 • Huntsman family agrees to purchase the print newspaper, its online edition and Web advertising arm.

Mike Gorrell

Help The Tribune report the stories others can’t—or won’t.

For over 150 years, The Salt Lake Tribune has been Utah’s independent news source. Our reporters work tirelessly to uncover the stories that matter most to Utahns, from unraveling the complexities of court rulings to allowing tax payers to see where and how their hard earned dollars are being spent. This critical work wouldn’t be possible without people like you—individuals who understand the importance of local, independent journalism.  As a nonprofit newsroom, every subscription and every donation fuels our mission, supporting the in-depth reporting that shines a light on the is sues shaping Utah today.

You can help power this work.

$15$25$35