THE McCLATCHY-KNIGHT RIDDER SALE ; They're still on the block; Analysts think suitors already are lining up for the 12 Knight Ridder newspapers that McClatchy plans to sell.: [METRO Edition]

Abstract

Some also suspect McClatchy already has an offer for at least some of the 12, which the Sacramento, Calif.-based chain will acquire as part of a $6.5 billion deal struck over the weekend. McClatchy executives said repeatedly Monday that they are sure they will find buyers for the papers and may even have simultaneous closings when the deal goes through several months from now.

Among the papers McClatchy plans to sell are two of Knight Ridder's biggest and most respected, the Philadelphia Inquirer and the San Jose Mercury News.

Knight Ridder's corporate headquarters is in San Jose, Calif. Also on the sell list are the St. Paul Pioneer Press, the Duluth News Tribune and the Grand Forks (N.D.) Herald.