Tribune calls Gannett ‘erratic,’ but still reviewing deal

Workers walk past the front entrance of the Hartford Courant building in Hartford, Conn., Monday, April 25, 2016. Newspaper publisher Gannett wants to buy Tribune Publishing for more than $388 million, in a deal that would give the owner of USA Today control of the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Hartford Courant and several other newspapers.(AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Workers walk past the front entrance of the Hartford Courant building in Hartford, Conn., Monday, April 25, 2016. Newspaper publisher Gannett wants to buy Tribune Publishing for more than $388 million, in a deal that would give the owner of USA Today control of the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Hartford Courant and several other newspapers.(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

By Associated Press April 26, 2016 2 min read

NEW YORK (AP) – Tribune Publishing said Tuesday in a letter that USA Today owner Gannett was “erratic” and “unreliable” as the two newspaper companies tried to discuss a possible tie-up.

Nonetheless, Tribune said it is still considering the $388 million takeover offer from Gannett.

Tribune’s letter comes a day after Gannett made public its bid to buy the owner of the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune. Gannett Co., based in McLean, Virginia, said Monday that Tribune refused to have meaningful discussions about a deal.

In its letter Tuesday, Tribune said Gannett executives cancelled a meeting without reason and once asked it to make a decision about the proposal within 90 minutes.

“Gannett has been playing games,” Tribune said in the letter, which was signed by Tribune CEO Justin Dearborn.