Dean Singleton (pictured), whose MediaNews has agreed to acquire the San Jose Mercury News and other Knight Ridder papers for $1 billion, said no layoffs are planned. Bill D’Agostino of the Palo Alto Weekly wrote: “Exiting the Mercury News offices in San Jose this afternoon following the announcement, MediaNews CEO Dean Singleton, Mercury News Chairman and Publisher George Riggs, and a relaxed-looking Knight Ridder Chairman and CEO Tony Ridder were mobbed by television and print photographers. Asked about the effect the MediaNews purchase would have on Bay Area journalism, Singleton said, ‘It will make it even better.’ He also said that no layoffs are planned, and then got into Riggs’ black Jaguar and drove away.” News of the sale was closely guarded all morning, and announcements had been put off at the Contra Costa Times three times, that paper reported.