Rich newspaper owners: Industry saviors or foes?

SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake Tribune’s pending sale to the wealthy Huntsman family unshackles the newspaper from cost-cutting corporate owners and resolves crippling financial uncertainty — but it also raises concerns about whether the influential family will meddle in the paper’s coverage.

[...] early reviews are encouraging at three other major newspapers now owned by rich power brokers: the Washington Post (Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos), Boston Globe (Boston Red Sox owner John Henry) and Minneapolis Star-Tribune (Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor).

[...] there are pitfalls, as evidenced by billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson’s ownership of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, which has been besieged by problems since his family made the secretive deal last winter.

[...] concerns linger over whether wealthy new owners will meddle in newspapers’ ability to serve as independent watchdogs, especially if they are well-known for their political or religious views.