Sun-Times owner sells 38 Chicago papers to Tribune Publishing

The parent company of the Chicago Sun-Times has sold six daily newspapers and 32 weekly publications to Tribune Publishing Co.

In announcing the deal Friday, Tribune executives said the suburban Chicago newspapers will help the company expand its "hyper local" news content and diversify its revenue sources.

Terms of the deal with Sun-Times owner Wrapports LLC were not disclosed.

Tribune Publishing's executive vice-president of advertising, Bob Fleck, was named publisher and general manager of the new papers.

The daily newspapers include The Aurora Beacon-News, the Naperville Sun and The Southtown Star.

Wrapports said the sale would allow it to focus on a new digital initiative called the Sun-Times Network, which launched Friday. It centres on a mobile news app tailored to local audiences in 70 U.S. cities.