The Austin American-Statesman of Texas reports that Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Publisher Walter E. Hussman Jr. visited the paper Tuesday and is interested in the property.
Hussman did not comment for the article, but the Statesman reports he and two other interested parties visited the paper and met with the newspaper's top executives. Hussman owns Wehco Media of Little Rock, which owns daily and weekly newspapers and cable companies.
The paper has been on the market for one year, according to the article. Austin investor Brian Ferguson and Weco, Texas, businessman Clifton Robinson also visited the paper, according to the report.
Last July, Paul Smith, the Democrat-Gazette's general manager and Wehco's vice president, told Arkansas Business the company was eyeing expansion possibilities because the the price to buy newspapers was dropping. Wehco bought three Missouri newspapers in March.
The statesman is owned by Cox Newspapers, which is part of Cox Enterprises Inc. of Atlanta.
Hussman could not be reached for comment.
