Koch Industries, the diversified industrial conglomerate controlled by billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch, has indicated it may be interested in buying Tribune Co.'s newspapers, which include the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune, according to people familiar with the matter.

The Kochs are among several parties that have shown interest in Tribune's titles, the people said. Others include greeting-card magnate Aaron Kushner, who led a group that purchased the Orange County Register and six other Freedom Communications...