FORMER STAR EDITOR DENIES CLOSEDOWN EFFORT UNDER WAY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01314R000300400024-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 26, 2004
• Sequence Number: 24
• Publication Date: June 29, 1975
• Content Type: NSPR

STAII
Approved For Rely 0TCIA-RDP88-0
was speaking only for himself but was
Star Editor IJemes difamili rectors, with the views of the other
In his reply Noyes said, The New York'
Under W"av Times story s Star the tht pame
of yesterday's Star suggesting that mem-;
herc'nf Fhi Nnvpc Rmi,f'r hnn - t a ,.
By Stephen J. Lynton
washingtoa Post stab Writer
A story published on the front page of
Saturday's Washington Star reporting that
trying to close it down has prompted a
Newbold Noyes,, who -recently stepped
down after 11 years as the Star's editor
but has remained a director of the finan-
cially troubled paper,; acknowledged,
nevertheless, that there are "differences
of opinion" among its stockholders over
how much money they "can afford to bet"
Yesterday the Star published a report
written by The New York Times and sup-
plied to the Star by the Times' news serv
The account said a '`struggle" was under
way between Joe L. Allbritton, the Star's'
new publisher, and the controlling mem-
bers of the paper's boards of directors.
It said Allbritton was fighting to save the
newspaper but other directors "apparent-
ly want to close
James O. Bellows, who was named to
succeed Noyes as editor last December,
said yesterday that he had made the de-
cision to publish the article and had not
-cleared it with the newspaper's owners.
Bellows said he could not "vouch for"
the accuracy of the Times report and did-
mot independently try to confirm it. He
decided the story should be published,
Bellows said, because the Times is a
"reputable" newspaper with some circu-
lation? in the Washington area and be-
rause?the article was of interest to Wash-
.:. fighting to save paper
JOE L. ALLBRITTON
Star.
The Star plans to print Noyes' reply to
the Times account as a letter to the editor
in today's editions. Noyes, a vice pi esi-
dent, director and consultant to the paper
and its parent company, Washington Star
Communications, Inc., said. yesterday he
families on the Star company boards of
directors are trying to close the news-j
paper is grossly false and unfair, On they
contrary, the effort of all members of thel
boards, old and new, is and always has
been to save the paper."
But he added, "There are, of .course,l
differences of opinion as to how this best
can be accomplished and how much stock-!
holders with varying resources can af-
ford to bet on the outcome."
Allbritton, the Texas millionaire who l
took over as the Star's publisher last;
year, could not be reached for eommentl
and a Houston associate said he was un-
familiar with the news account or the re-i
ported dispute. Many details in. the news,I
story could not immediately be confirmed.
Yesterday's story reported a disagree-
ment over a $5 million, 10-year loan said
to have been, negotiated by Allbritton,
with Aetna Life & Casualty Co. The
directors indicated they would not agree t
to guarantee the loan, the article said.
Asked about the report, Noyes said,
"That is all screwed up and doesn't make
any sense at all-and isn't true." Het
would say only that a proposed loan was
under consideration but had not been
acted on by the directors.
A reliable source, who asked not to bet
identified, confirmed that the proposed
loan was for $5 million and was with
Aetna.
Several Star staff writers, interviewed
yesterday, said they accepted the-report
as largely accurate.. "Bellows certainly
would know what the situation is down
there and I can't see him. putting a story ,
in that misrepresented Allbritton's point
of view," said a reporter who asked not
to be identified. -
Some Star reporters viewed the story's
publication as linked with internal prob-.:f
lems. They described it as an. apparent 1
attempt by Allbritton's allies to squelch 4V
unconfirmed rumors suggesting that a."
crucial decision over the Star's finances
was imminent. These rumors abounded
last weeks they said.
The Star has recently taken. steps to
ease its financial problems, including
shifting it Newspaper Guild employees to a
four-day work week. -Much of its financial
future appears to ride on a pending
Federal -Communications Commission
ruling on whether the newspaper's own-
ers may retain control of three profitable
television stations.
Approved For Release 2004/09/28 : CIA-RDP88-01314R000300400024-3