What I like about the MG/BH deal

I think there are several good bits of news in this deal, the biggest of which is that Berkshire Hathaway acquired the papers without saddling them with debt. When newspaper chains routinely earned 20 percent profit, it was common practice to borrow big to acquire new properties, which left those companies upside down when newspaper profits plummeted. Newspapers that aren't overly burdened with debt might have a fighting chance at sustainable profitability.