In a step toward a possible sale of some or all of its publishing and broadcasting properties, Tribune said it had retained Merrill Lynch and Citigroup as financial advisors to help it explore
strategic alternatives. "Our initial focus is determining the best strategic alternatives for the company and its publishing and broadcast groups as a whole, before evaluating strategic alternatives
for individual business units," said Dennis FitzSimons, chairman, president and CEO of Tribune. The move follows one week after Tribune met with its board of directors and named an independent special
committee to oversee the process. The committee announced that it had retained the firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom as legal counsel.