Denver Post says JOA to end soon

The Joint Operating Agreement between The Denver Post and the troubled Rocky Mountain News is on shaky ground, according to Editor & Publisher‘s Fitz & Jen blog.
The Denver Post Corporation released a statement today clarifying its position about the JOA:

If the Rocky Mountain News ceases publication, it will be in violation of the Joint Operating Agreement, and the agreement will end.
If the Rocky Mountain News is sold, The Denver Post intends to exercise its options to buy all of Denver Newspaper Agency, and Denver Newspaper Agency and The Denver Post will be consolidated. In either case, The Denver Post and the Denver Newspaper Agency will become one organization and will publish only The Denver Post. At that time, the intercompany balances between The Denver Post and the Denver Newspaper Agency will offset, and the combined company will be recapitalized with a plan to successfully move The Denver Post into the future.

The statement was released after the Rocky Mountain News published a story accusing The Denver Post of misusing JOA funds for payroll purposes.
E&P reports that MediaNews Group CEO Dean Singleton believes the Rocky Mountain News will not find a buyer and will fold.

To read more, and see the Denver Post Co. statement, click here.