Merger, Paris-Style

Since he hardly needed money, John Hay Whitney took up newspapering for fun. But recently the fun has been costly even for a Whitney, and Jock has been easing out. Last March he merged his New York Herald Tribune with Hearst's Journal-American and Scripps-Howard's World Telegram & Sun, taking a one-third interest in the new World Journal Tribune, Inc. The Herald Tribune Syndicate had already become a one-third part of the Publishers Newspaper Syndicate three years before; and a month ago Whitney sold even his minority interest in the P.N.S. Still left under Whitney's full control was the Paris Herald Tribune, the 78-year-old daily link to home for U.S. tourists and expatriates. Last week Whitney announced that the Paris Trib, too, would get a new part owner.

Although the Trib has regularly made money, it has lately drifted into the loss column. Circulation still averages 60,000, with a record 102,000 press run last week during the tourist boom. But costs are rising--notably the cost of delivering the paper daily to 8,000 different newsstands in 72 countries around the world, from Brazil to Norway to Taiwan to South Africa. Months ago, quiet merger talks began with the Paris edition of the New York Times (circ. 40,000), which has lost money consistently since its start six years ago. The talks reportedly foundered when the Times demanded editorial control and a fifty-fifty partnership. Then the Washington Post came along with a better offer. Last week Whitney and Post President Kay Graham announced that a deal had been struck.

When the legal loose ends are worked out, probably by September, the Post will get a 45% interest in the Trib for an undisclosed sum, and the paper's name will be changed to the jaw-cracking "International Edition of the New York Herald Tribune-the Washington Post." As it has in the past, the paper will continue to offer Trib features and stories from the Los Angeles Times-Washington Post News Service. But Trib Editor Bernard Cutler will leave, and a replacement is now being sought. With his 55% interest, Whitney remains the publisher, but the Post is definitely in to stay. Insiders report that it has an option to buy more stock whenever Whitney decides to let go entirely.

In another acquisitive move last week, the Post announced that Columnist Art Buchwald will follow Walter Lippmann in switching his affiliation from the New York Herald Tribune to the Post. Buchwald's thrice-weekly column will be distributed by the Los Angeles Times Syndicate.

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