Billionaire Sam Zell said he and another big investor want to buy the Tribune. The other investor? Tribune employees. Here's how Marketwatch reports it:

Without providing details, Zell confirmed that his plan involves creating an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) and that the ownership would be "a partnership between myself and the ESOP," Crain's reported.

This is the latest possible buyer on a short list of possibilities. Just a few weeks ago, Tribune execs were talking about going on a "self-help" program instead of selling. Maybe self-help includes selling to themselves.

I don't know much about the prospect of an employee-owned newspaper. It's the first I've heard of. Right? And "employee-owned" companies, like United Airlines, have their own problems. It's something I need to learn more about.