Judge Blocks Shutdown of Honolulu Paper

A federal judge blocked the planned shutdown of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin until the state’s antitrust lawsuit against the newspaper’s owner and its only competitor is decided. The state argues that newspaper giant Gannett Co., which owns the morning Honolulu Advertiser, in effect paid off Liberty Newspapers Limited Partnership, the owner of the afternoon Star-Bulletin, to create a monopoly. Attorneys for both Gannett and Liberty said the agreement was a business decision beneficial to both and violates no federal laws. The Advertiser said Gannett would appeal. U.S. District Judge Alan Kay said the public interest to preserve separate editorial voices in the community is great enough to keep the Star-Bulletin running until the lawsuit is settled. He ordered that no further actions be taken to impede the continued operation of the 117-year-old Star-Bulletin--including ending its joint operating agreement with the Advertiser. Under the joint operating agreement, the two share advertising, circulation and business operations but maintain separate newsrooms and editorial staffs.