The FULL PAGE AD didn't help

[Gutenberg]

Tribune Company, despite the generosity of wethepeople.org buying that full page ad, will declare bankruptcy. I just got my notice to buy into the ghoul pool--I put five dollars on 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. Sam Zell, that vampire, bought the company to drain it of assets. I hate leveraged buyouts. The company would be viable if it weren't for the $9 billion-with-a-b in debt that Zell saddled it with during the sale.

[lafinfil]

Say goodbye to your assets

At Least 3 Bidders Step Up To Plate For Tribune's Cubs Sale

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/...1003918361

I would also add that the Trib has been on a downward spiral for more than a few years.

I used to be a daily reader - one of the three or four papers I read religiously.
The Tempo section was one of the best in the business with literature, art, architecture and more
before it turned into a celebrity garbage section. This was pre-Zell but a precursor of what was coming.

The editorial page too was once a better balance with more local takes, but it too has relied to much
on the same syndicated rehashing that I can read elsewhere for free.
The Trib is shadow of it's former greatness. RIP

[Black Landlord]

Beat me to the punch Gutenberg.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=32116

Was never much of a Trib fan myself-- the Sun Times had Mike Royko and took enough of my favorite cartoons that I could live with it when the Daily News folded. They've done some great pieces on the bike movement recently though.

[dmann]

I have been a Trib reader forever- had it delivered when I was in college out of state and still have home delivery, although I don't get the 7 day package.

Quality has definitely declined over the past few years. A good friend who was working there when Zell took over saw the writing on the wall. She knew she was going to be laid off and worked out a nice deal with HR. 6 of her friends have been laid off over the past 3 weeks, and that is in one small department.

I haven't read an issue of the Sun-Times in at least 10 years. Guess it's time for another look.

DM

[lafinfil]

"No self-respecting fish would be wrapped in a Murdoch paper and that, His goal is not quality journalism.
His goal is vast power for Rupert Murdoch, political power."

- Mike Royko reflecting on the sale of the Sun-Times to Rupert Murdoch
(he then when he moved to The Trib)

[Black Landlord]

Goose Island, May 2009

[mikeylikesit]

The LA Times use to be a pretty good newspaper, the Trib took care of that in short order.

[Gutenberg]

Update: He did it. TribCo filed Chap 11 at noon.

The bastard.

Theory is he's trying to break the Newspaper Guild and get out of buyout and pension agreements.

[dmann]

From what I have heard about him, it wouldn't surprise me a bit.

DM