Chicago Tribune Owner Tronc In Talks to Buy Us Weekly: Reports

CHICAGO, IL — Chicago Tribune owner tronc — formerly known as Tribune Publishing — is reportedly in talks to purchase celebrity and entertainment news magazine Us Weekly.

Negotiations are "fluid" and could still break down, according to the New York Post, which reported a potential sale price of $90 million.

In addition to the Tribune and affiliated papers including the Aurora Beacon and Naperville Sun, Chicago-based tronc owns the Los Angeles Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, Orlando Sentinel and papers in Maryland, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Us Weekly owner Wenner Media also publishes Rolling Stone and Men's Journal.

The potential sale comes after another media company — Gannett Co. — ended its efforts to purchase tronc late last year, according to the LA Times. Last month, the New York Post reported that American Media Inc. — the company behind the National Enquirer and Star Magazine — had all but sealed the deal to purchase Us Weekly, but the sale fell apart at the last minute.

The Chicago Tribune's parent company announced its name change from Tribune Publishing to tronc last June.

Photo: Kiichiro Sato/Associated Press