Tribune Co. Suffers Attack of A.D.D.

Retooled Tribune apparently won't
look like this

From Crain's Chicago Business
Contrary to a prototype leaked to E&P, the Chicago Tribune won't splash its "Trib" nickname atop the front page, reports Ann Saphir. She's told that more recent prototypes show the paper using the full name in its traditional gothic font but with "Chicago" and "Tribune" stacked on top of one another, creating a box that can be moved depending on the page's design needs. The new look debuts Sept. 29. [Click for MORE]

From Crain's Chicago Business

EARLIER: A drastically different look — even a new name — could be in store for the Chicago Tribune if a prototype making the rounds online is any indication.

Copies of the redesign sample obtained by industry publication Editor & Publisher show the banner atop Page 1 with the paper's long-time nickname, the Trib, front and center.

The E&P copy is believed to be one of many design changes that has been under consideration.

Tribune Co. Chief Operating Officer Randy Michaels ordered redesigns of all the Chicago-based media company's papers — along with cuts in editorial output and staff — in a bid to trim costs as circulations decline and advertising revenues plummet. He’s stated the company goal to cut editorial content to 50% of the typical paper, down from about 66% today, allowing Tribune to eliminate a collective 500 pages weekly.

A Tribune Co. spokesman told Editor & Publisher the prototype should be considered “a work in progress” and refused to comment further on redesign efforts ahead of the retooled paper’s debut, expected by the end of September. [Click for MORE]

But the other Tribune papers do look like this


The Baltimore Sun has launched it's own redesign with a splash. Read all about it HERE. Old design is lower left.

Number 3 to redesign was the Morning Call in Allentown, Pa. The old page is left. Read more about it HERE.



The South Florida Sun-Sentinel was the second paper to redesign. Read all about it HERE.

The Orlando Sentinel suffered the first redesign, right. Sphere: Related Content

Summer Makeover in Orlando

From LA Observed:
Sam Zell's Orlando Sentinel has unveiled its new more colorful and "get to the point" redesign. The editor of the Chicago Tribune today told her staff that the paper will remake itself and do it at unheard-of speed for a complete redesign: launching in 90 days. Meanwhile, Zell's COO Randy Michaels was at the L.A. Times this week, leading to tense closed-door meetings all over the place and fueling all sorts of rumors. The details of staff and page cuts threatened for this month have yet to be announced, but they are nervously awaited. The anony-blogger at Tell Zell has launched an effort to investigate Zell's handling of the pension funds, and asked questions about the lease of space to Zell's sister. Sphere: Related Content