Deal could be done within the next couple of weeks
New Orleans businessman John Georges is the reported suitor for "The Advocate" newspaper.
The newspaper first disclosed last Friday that the Manship family was in discussions to sell the paper to a potential buyer and the Baton Rouge Business Report has identified Georges as the suitor.
The Business Report describes the negotiations as "serious" and quotes publisher David Manship as saying a deal could be completed in the next couple of weeks.
Manship has refused to confirm Georges as the buyer because he has signed a confidentiality agreement, but Georges has confirmed it according to the Business Report.
Manship says the daily newspaper was not really on the block when the family was approached about selling.
The Business Report quoted Manship as saying,"We said what we wanted, and he is thinking about it. I can assure you, it was a lot more than it's worth."
