Sam Zell Could Join AP Board

Posted Thursday, February 28, 2008 12:00 am

By: E&P Staff Newspaper industry newcomer Sam Zell, now Tribune Co. chairman and CEO after leading the $8.2 billion going-private deal for the Chicago media giant, could join the board of directors of The Associated Press in April.

An AP spokesman confirmed that Zell, who earned his billionaire status in real estate, is a nominee for the election. AP members elect the directors, with the results to be announced at the cooperative's annual meeting in April in Washington, D.C.

A Tribune Co. spokesperson declined to comment on the nomination. A source at the company confirmed the nomination, adding, "We expect he'll win."

At Tribune, Zell replaced former Chairman, President and CEO Dennis FitzSimons, who stepped down last December when the deal closed. FitzSimons had been an AP director.

Zell has made headlines in recent weeks for occasionally lapsing into profanity and off-color remarks as he tours Tribune's media properties.

But if he gets on the AP board, he will hardly be the only member with a reputation for being outspoken. The current AP chairman is MediaNews Group CEO William Dean Singleton, and the board includes other extroverts such as The McClatchy Co.'s Gary Pruitt, Hearst Corp.'s Victor F. Ganzi, and Lee Enterprises' Mary Junck.

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Sam Zell Could Join AP Board

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