Chicago Tribune

The Chicago Tribune is a major American daily newspaper.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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

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.