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Chicago Tribune

technology Maturity 11-13

This is a big paper.

Chicago Tribune Logo.svg
Chicago Tribune Logo.svg
It tells news from Chicago. It has been around a long time. Many people read it every day. It helps us know what is happening. Do you like to read the news?

49 words

The Chicago Tribune is a big newspaper.

Chicago Tribune Logo.svg
Chicago Tribune Logo.svg
It started a long time ago in 1847. It tells news about Chicago and Illinois.
Flag of Illinois.svg
Flag of Illinois.svg
It used to have a special motto. That motto helped name its radio and TV stations. Many people read this paper every day. It even has a tall building called the Tribune Tower. This paper is very famous in its area.

78 words

The Chicago Tribune is a big daily newspaper.

Chicago Tribune Logo.svg
Chicago Tribune Logo.svg
It started in 1847 in Chicago, Illinois.
Flag of Illinois.svg
Flag of Illinois.svg
It is a very popular paper in the Great Lakes region.

In the 1800s, the paper helped support Abraham Lincoln. The paper was a strong voice for the Republican Party. Later, a man named Robert McCormick took control. He used a motto called "The American Paper for Americans."

Tribune Tower, Michigan Avenue, Streeterville, Chicago, IL (52863121784).jpg
Tribune Tower, Michigan Avenue, Streeterville, Chicago, IL (52863121784).jpg
Under his lead, the paper grew much larger.

The paper is known for being very bold. In 1948, it made a famous mistake. It printed a headline that said "Dewey Defeats Truman." But Harry S. Truman actually won the election.

Dewey Defeats Truman.jpg
Dewey Defeats Truman.jpg
Later, the paper was the first to print the Watergate tapes. These were recordings of President Richard Nixon.

The paper also has a famous home. This is the Tribune Tower. It is a tall, beautiful building. Today, the paper focuses on news from Chicago and Illinois. It is the sixth-largest paper in the United States by print sales.

178 words

The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois.

Chicago Tribune Logo.svg
Chicago Tribune Logo.svg
It is the most-read daily paper in the Great Lakes region. In the United States, it ranks as the sixth-largest newspaper by print circulation.
Flag of Illinois.svg
Flag of Illinois.svg
For a long time, the paper used a special slogan. It called itself the "World's Greatest Newspaper." This slogan even gave its radio and television stations their call letters, WGN.
Flag of Chicago, Illinois.svg
Flag of Chicago, Illinois.svg
The paper serves as a vital way for people to learn about their world.

How a newspaper works involves gathering news and printing it for readers. The Tribune used to print only in a large format called a broadsheet. In 2009, they tried a smaller format called a tabloid for some sales. This change was not popular with many readers. By 2011, the paper went back to its original broadsheet style for everyone.

Newspaper nicu buculei 01.svg
Newspaper nicu buculei 01.svg
Today, the paper focuses heavily on news from Illinois and the Chicago area. This helps local people stay connected to what is happening nearby.

The history of the paper began in the mid-1800s. James Kelly, John E. Wheeler, and Joseph K. C. Forrest founded it.

Chicago Tribune Advertisement 1870.jpg
Chicago Tribune Advertisement 1870.jpg
They published the very first edition on June 10, 1847. Later, Joseph Medill became a leader at the paper. Under his guidance, the Tribune supported Abraham Lincoln. Medill even helped Lincoln secure the presidency in 1860. The paper also helped grow the Republican Party in Chicago. It absorbed several other local publications during those early years.

In the 1900s, the paper changed in many interesting ways. A man named Robert R. McCormick took control in the 1920s.

Tribune Tower, Michigan Avenue, Streeterville, Chicago, IL (52863121784).jpg
Tribune Tower, Michigan Avenue, Streeterville, Chicago, IL (52863121784).jpg
He used the motto "The American Paper for Americans." The paper grew by adding comic strips like Little Orphan Annie.
Chicago Tribune, September 4, 1919.gif
Chicago Tribune, September 4, 1919.gif
It also became a leader in radio with the station WGN. In 1948, the paper made a very famous mistake. It printed a headline saying "Dewey Defeats Truman" during an election.
Dewey Defeats Truman.jpg
Dewey Defeats Truman.jpg
However, Harry S. Truman actually won the vote.

You can see the paper's influence in many places today. Its famous headquarters is the Tribune Tower, a beautiful building.

Tribune Tower, Michigan Avenue, Streeterville, Chicago, IL (52863121784).jpg
Tribune Tower, Michigan Avenue, Streeterville, Chicago, IL (52863121784).jpg
The paper has also been part of big historical moments. For example, it was the first to publish the Watergate tapes.
Pulitzer Medal - obverse.png
Pulitzer Medal - obverse.png
These were 246,000 words of recordings from President Richard Nixon. The paper's work helped lead to the president's resignation. This shows how a newspaper can change the course of history.

451 words

The Chicago Tribune is a major American daily newspaper.

Chicago Tribune Logo.svg
Chicago Tribune Logo.svg
It is based in Chicago, Illinois, within the United States. Currently, it is the most-read daily newspaper in the Chicago metropolitan area. It also leads the Great Lakes region in readership. In terms of print circulation, it ranks as the sixth-largest newspaper in the country. For many years, the paper used a famous slogan. It called itself the "World's Greatest Newspaper." This phrase even provided the call letters for its WGN radio and television stations.
Flag of Chicago, Illinois.svg
Flag of Chicago, Illinois.svg

The newspaper has undergone several physical changes in how it is printed. For most of its history, it was published as a broadsheet. A broadsheet is a large, traditional newspaper format. On January 13, 2009, the Tribune announced a new plan. It would continue the broadsheet format for home deliveries. However, it would use a smaller tabloid format for newsstands and commuters. This change did not please the readers. Consequently, the Tribune discontinued the tabloid edition in August 2011. It returned to using the broadsheet format for all its distribution channels.

Newspaper nicu buculei 01.svg
Newspaper nicu buculei 01.svg

The history of the Tribune began in the mid-19th century. James Kelly, John E. Wheeler, and Joseph K. C. Forrest founded the paper. They published the very first edition on June 10, 1847. In the 1850s, the paper saw major leadership changes. Joseph Medill became the managing editor after being convinced by J. D. Webster and Charles H. Ray. Under Medill, the paper became a powerful voice for the Republican Party. It also became closely linked to Abraham Lincoln. Medill helped secure Lincoln's presidency in 1860. During this era, the paper also absorbed three other local publications.

Chicago Tribune Advertisement 1870.jpg
Chicago Tribune Advertisement 1870.jpg

In the 20th century, the paper entered a different era of influence. Robert R. McCormick took control of the paper in the 1920s. He was the grandson of Joseph Medill. Under McCormick, the paper became known for its conservative outlook. It often opposed the New Deal and promoted American isolationism. He used the motto "The American Paper for Americans." The Tribune also expanded its reach through various media. It launched WGN radio and later WGN television in 1948.

Tribune Tower, Michigan Avenue, Streeterville, Chicago, IL (52863121784).jpg
Tribune Tower, Michigan Avenue, Streeterville, Chicago, IL (52863121784).jpg
The paper even sponsored an attempt at Arctic aviation in 1929. Unfortunately, the aircraft was destroyed by ice in Canada during that mission.

The Tribune is also famous for several massive journalistic moments. In 1948, the paper made a historic error during a presidential election. Because of a staff strike, editors incorrectly believed Thomas Dewey had won. They published a headline that read "Dewey Defeats Truman."

Dewey Defeats Truman.jpg
Dewey Defeats Truman.jpg
In reality, Democrat Harry S. Truman won the election. Another major moment occurred in 1974 regarding the Watergate scandal. The Tribune published the full 246,000-word text of the Watergate tapes. This was a massive 44-page supplement. It arrived just 24 hours after the transcripts were released. This reporting helped lead to the resignation of President Richard Nixon.

Ownership of the newspaper has shifted significantly over the decades. It was once owned by the Tribune Company. In the 1960s, the company began buying other daily newspapers to expand. Later, the paper was owned by Tribune Publishing. In May 2021, Alden Global Capital acquired Tribune Publishing. They operate their media through a group called Digital First Media. Since this acquisition, the news coverage has changed. The paper now focuses more on Chicago and Illinois news. It has moved away from as much national and international coverage.

Flag of Illinois.svg
Flag of Illinois.svg

Throughout its long life, the Tribune has maintained a strong presence in its community. It is known for its iconic headquarters, the Tribune Tower.

Tribune Tower, Michigan Avenue, Streeterville, Chicago, IL (52862957626).jpg
Tribune Tower, Michigan Avenue, Streeterville, Chicago, IL (52862957626).jpg
The paper has also faced legal challenges regarding its business practices. It settled a lawsuit in 2013 involving illegal charges to consumers. More recently, it was sued in 2023 for deceptive billing practices. Despite these challenges, the paper remains a central part of the Great Lakes media landscape. It continues to serve as a primary source of information for millions of people.

683 words
🖼️ Images & Media (14)
File:Flag of Chicago, Illinois.svg
Flag of Chicago, Illinois.svg
File:Flag of Illinois.svg
Flag of Illinois.svg
File:Greater coat of arms of the United States.svg
Greater coat of arms of the United States.svg
File:Chicago Tribune Logo.svg
Chicago Tribune Logo.svg
File:DodgerBlue flag waving.svg
DodgerBlue flag waving.svg
File:Newspaper nicu buculei 01.svg
Newspaper nicu buculei 01.svg
File:Tribune Tower, Michigan Avenue, Streeterville, Chicago, IL (52863121784).jpg
Tribune Tower, Michigan Avenue,...
File:Dewey Defeats Truman.jpg
Dewey Defeats Truman.jpg
File:Tribune Tower, Michigan Avenue, Streeterville, Chicago, IL (52862957626).jpg
Tribune Tower, Michigan Avenue,...
File:Chicago Tribune Advertisement 1870.jpg
Chicago Tribune Advertisement 1870.jpg
File:Pulitzer Medal - reverse.png
Pulitzer Medal - reverse.png
File:Pulitzer Medal - obverse.png
Pulitzer Medal - obverse.png

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