Chicago City Wire

Two weeks ago, Tribune Publishing informed the Chicago Tribune Guild that buyout offers are available for staff at the Chicago Tribune. This move follows a similar situation at the Chicago Sun-Times three months prior, where 30 employees accepted buyouts.

The union representing Tribune staff opposes these offers. Gregory Royal Pratt, union vice chair and Tribune reporter, expressed his concerns on X: “We should focus on building readership by investing in strong coverage,” he said, “not cutting staff to satisfy short-term greed.”

Founded in 1847, the Chicago Tribune was once a significant media force. It was part of a larger corporation that owned various newspapers and television stations. In 2014, many of its newspapers were spun off to form Tribune Publishing, which Alden Global Capital acquired in 2021.

The sale of its iconic Tribune Tower in 2016 and the demolition of its Freedom Center printing plant last year mark notable changes for the newspaper. The site is now being developed into a downtown casino.

Alden's acquisition led to several journalists accepting buyouts. Among them was John Kass, who faced controversy over alleged anti-Semitism charges by the Chicago Tribune Guild related to his criticism of George Soros. The guild's accusations were denied by Kass supporters.

As traditional newspapers face competition from digital media platforms like blogs and podcasts, some argue that publications like the Tribune have leaned further left politically rather than adapting their strategies to attract a broader audience.

Criticism has also been directed at recent coverage choices within the paper. For example, an article by intern Ikram Mohamed about pro-Palestinian encampments did not include perspectives from pro-Israeli students.

According to the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), free speech rights regarding encampments are limited by reasonable restrictions enforced by public institutions.

Some suggest that real journalism involves presenting multiple viewpoints on controversial issues—a practice they feel is lacking at present-day mainstream media outlets like the Chicago Tribune.

A past column praised former columnist John Kass for engaging readers with diverse perspectives through his work—something critics say current reporters fail to achieve due to self-interest or attempts to impress peers rather than serving their audience effectively.

The future remains uncertain for this historic publication amid ongoing challenges within today’s competitive media landscape.