It seems like we're playing a game of Survivor: Arizona Newspaper edition. Today the East Valley Tribune, which won the Pulitzer Prize for local reporting earlier this year, announced it will be closing its doors by the end of the year. From the Tribune's Web site:

The Tribune Newspapers will cease operations on Dec. 31, the parent company Freedom Communications said Monday.

Freedom officials made the announcement to Tribune employees Monday morning, citing the economic recession and changes in the newspaper industry that have caused many publications to close and others to file for bankruptcy protection.

Freedom, which is based in Irvine, Calif., operating under Chapter 11 reorganization, had been attempting to sell the Tribune, but no acceptable offers have come forward, said interim Chief Executive Burl Osborne.

“We have received a number of inquiries, but none at a level we would remotely consider,” he said, adding that, “This is a terrible day for the company, a terrible day for the Tribune.”

Severance packages will be provided to employees and some jobs may be available in other parts of the company, said Publisher Julie Moreno.

Two other Freedom newspapers in the Valley, the Sun City Daily News-Sun and the Ahwatukee Foothills News, will continue to publish, as will Freedom Interactive in Chandler, which publishes the Clipper coupon book.