Struggling newspapers selling off old HQs

[NEW YORK] They were once major symbols of civic pride and influence, often situated in the heart of the city, and nearly equal in stature to nearby city halls, courthouses and other major public buildings.

But increasingly, many of the buildings that served as newspaper headquarters in cities around the country are being put on the market, as a struggling industry searches desperately for ways to increase revenue.

In recent months, The Washington Post put its downtown headquarters and three warehouse buildings in Alexandria, Virginia, up for sale, and the Tribune Co has hired a veteran real estate executive, who is expected to help that company sell some of its holdings.

As a reflection of the print industry's sorry state, the physical plant in which the paper is produced is likely to have a far greater value than the paper itself, especially when situated in a gent…