Again, there are rumblings that The Washington Times soon will shut its doors.
Local Web site DCRTV.com reported Monday that Preston Moon, son of the Rev. Sun Myung Moon who runs the paper, planned to break the news via press release on Friday that he planned to shutter the paper.
In DCRTV's report, the closure was halted due to a last-minute offer from an unknown bidder to purchase the conservative newspaper. Preston Moon and his family have long been fighting over the future of the former daily. DCRTV's unnamed source told the Web site that Preston Moon has had it with the paper and isn't interested in making a deal.
"It is now about showing Daddy Moon who has the bigger cajones," the source told DCRTV. "If this offer -- and it is a reasonable one -- is rejected, the paper could close its doors this week, just shy of 30 years in the nation's capital."
The source continues, "The paper has large debt load but there is a buyer. Normally, this would be a good thing for a seller. In the zany world of the Moon family, and the son's disregard for the family's wishes, it looks like the final edition is imminent."
The paper has downsized considerably because of economic difficulties. In December, the newspaper laid off several top editors, along with its entire sports section and several other reporters. It also stopped publishing the Sunday edition, and reduced the number of copies it prints.
Then, there's the controversy involving former editorial page editor Richard Miniter. He claims he was let go after he expressed concerns about being "coerced" to attend a mass wedding hosted by the Unification Church last year. He is suing the paper for discrimination and still has not reached a settlement.
Several calls and an e-mail to the Times' publicist were not returned.
