Who Wants To Buy The Boston Globe?

Negotiations continue Thursday between the Boston Newspaper Guild and the owner of the Boston Globe, The New York Times Co. But not in person. The two sides are communicating by e-mail and phone until their next scheduled face-to-face talks next Monday.

In the meantime, speculation also continues regarding the possible sale of the newspaper. The Globe has reported that three local businessmen are considering making a bid, either separately or together. The three men all have deep roots in the local area. Jack Connors Jr. is a retired ad executive, civic philanthropist Stephen Taylor is a member of the family who used to own the Boston Globe, and Stephen Pagliuca is a primary owner of the Boston Celtics.

Jack Connors

Jack Connors’ interest in owning the paper could spring from his love for the city. He was born to Irish immigrants in Roslindale. After graduating from Boston College, he founded what became the city’s most successful advertising agency — Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopoulos Inc. He stepped down in 2003 and now oversees his family foundation, which is believed to be worth about $500 million.

Three years ago, Connors made an offer to buy the paper with retired General Electric CEO Jack Welch. It was rebuffed by The New York Times. Since then, Welch has moved out of town. But Connors remains very active in the community. He’s raised millions of dollars to rebuild Catholic schools. He’s helped reform health care law as Chairman of Partners HealthCare at a time when it grew to become the state’s largest employer. Connors spearheaded the fundraising to build Camp Harbor View, a summer day camp in Boston Harbor for inner-city kids.