WASHINGTON (AP) — The owner of The Washington Times has reached a preliminary agreement to sell the paper to a company affiliated with the Unification Church, the executive editor said late Tuesday.

Sam Dealey, the editor, said the deal was subject to a 30-day due diligence period. The sale, to News World Media Development, would then be completed if all parties still agree.

Mr. Dealey called the deal a welcome development, and he praised the newspaper’s staff.

The paper has struggled to stay afloat, cutting roughly 40 percent of its staff this year and eliminating its sports section.

The paper was founded in 1982 by the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, the leader of the Unification Church leader. His son now owns it.

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