Editing Chicago Tribune (section)

===21st century===
[[Ann Marie Lipinski]] was the paper's editor from February 2001 until stepping down on July 17, 2008. [[Gerould W. Kern]] was named the paper's editor in July 2008.<ref name="nyt2008-07-15">{{cite news |author=Richard Pérez-Peña |date=July 15, 2008 |title=Two Leaders to Step Down at Tribune Newspapers |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/15/business/media/15paper.html |url-access=limited |access-date=June 19, 2020}}</ref> In early August 2008, managing editor for news [[Hanke Gratteau]] resigned, and several weeks later, managing editor for features [[James Warren (journalist)|James Warren]] resigned as well.<ref name="chicagoreader1">{{cite web|last=Miner|first=Michael|url=http://blogs.chicagoreader.com/news-bites/2008/08/21/hirt-warren-out/|title=Hirt In; Warren Out|publisher=Chicago Reader|date=August 21, 2008|access-date=September 26, 2009|archive-date=December 1, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201213104/http://blogs.chicagoreader.com/news-bites/2008/08/21/hirt-warren-out/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Both were replaced by [[Jane Hirt]], who previously had been the editor of the ''Tribune''{{'}}s ''[[RedEye]]'' tabloid.<ref name="chicagoreader1"/>

In June 2000, Times Mirror merged with Tribune Company making ''[[The Baltimore Sun]]'' and its community papers Baltimore Sun Media Group / Patuxent Publishing a subsidiary of Tribune.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/about/bal-about-sun-story.html |title=About The Baltimore Sun |publisher=Baltimore Sun |access-date=June 19, 2020 |archive-date=June 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622072840/https://www.baltimoresun.com/about/bal-about-sun-story.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/about/bal-about-sun-exec-pro-story.html |title=Baltimore Sun Media Group Executive Profiles |date=February 20, 2020 |publisher=Baltimore Sun |access-date=June 19, 2020}}</ref>

In July 2000, Tribune outdoors columnist John Husar, who had written about his need for a new liver transplant, died at age 63, just over a week after receiving part of a new liver from a live donor.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2000-07-21-0007210068-story.html|title=John Husar, 63, Tribune Writer|website=Chicago Tribune|date=July 21, 2000 |access-date=June 19, 2020}}</ref>

Tribune's Baltimore Community papers include ''Arbutus Times'', ''Baltimore Messenger'', ''[[Catonsville Times]]'', ''Columbia Flier'', ''[[The Howard County Times|Howard County Times]]'', ''[[The Jeffersonian (newspaper)|The Jeffersonian]]'', ''Laurel Leader'', ''Lifetimes'', ''North County News'', ''Northeast Booster'', ''Northeast Reporter'', ''Owings Mills Times'', and ''Towson Times''.

The ''Howard County Times'' was named 2010 Newspaper of the Year by the Suburban Newspaper Association.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://corporate.tribune.com/pressroom/?p=2102 |title=Tribune.com » Library » Howard County Times named 2010 Newspaper of the Year |publisher=Corporate.tribune.com |date=September 24, 2010 |access-date=March 2, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120706135126/http://corporate.tribune.com/pressroom/?p=2102 |archive-date=July 6, 2012  }}</ref>

The ''Towson Times'' expands coverage beyond the Towson area and includes Baltimore County government and politics.<ref name="explorebaltimorecounty">{{cite web|url=http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/|title=Baltimore County - baltimoresun.com|publisher=explorebaltimorecounty.com|access-date=January 27, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.patuxent.com/publications.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021010095716/http://www.patuxent.com/publications.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 10, 2002 |title=Tribune Company |publisher=Patuxent.com |date=December 31, 2012 |access-date=March 2, 2013 }}</ref>

The ''Tribune'' won five Pulitzer prizes in the first decade of the 21st century.<ref name="chicagotribune.com"/> Salopek won his second Pulitzer for the ''Tribune'' in 2001 for international reporting, and that same year an explanatory reporting team—lead writers of which were [[Louise Kiernan]], [[Jon Hilkevitch]], [[Laurie Cohen]], [[Robert Manor]], Andrew Martin, [[John Schmeltzer]], Alex Rodriguez and [[Andrew Zajac]]—won the honor for a profile of the chaotic U.S. air traffic system.<ref name="chicagotribune.com"/><ref>{{cite news|first=Monica|last=Davey|title=Tribune awarded 2 Pulitzers|work=Chicago Tribune|page=6|date=April 17, 2001}}</ref> In 2003, editorial writer [[Cornelia Grumman]] snagged the award for editorial writing.<ref name="chicagotribune.com"/> In 2005, [[Julia Keller]] won a Pulitzer for feature reporting on a tornado that struck [[Utica, Illinois]].<ref name="chicagotribune.com"/> And, in 2008, an investigative reporting team including [[Patricia Callahan]], [[Maurice Possley]], [[Sam Roe]], Ted Gregory, [[Michael Oneal]], [[Evan Osnos]] and photojournalist [[Scott Strazzante]] won the Pulitzer for its series about faulty government regulation of defective toys, cribs and car seats.<ref name="chicagotribune.com"/><ref>{{cite web|last=Miner|first=Michael|url=http://blogs.chicagoreader.com/news-bites/2008/02/19/tribune-blogger-win-polk-awards/|title=Tribune, blogger win Polk awards|publisher=Chicago Reader|date=February 19, 2008|access-date=September 26, 2009|archive-date=October 6, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006012251/http://blogs.chicagoreader.com/news-bites/2008/02/19/tribune-blogger-win-polk-awards/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In late 2001, sports columnist [[Michael Holley]] announced he was leaving the ''Tribune'' after just two months because he was homesick.<ref name="chireader">{{cite web|author=Michael Miner|url=https://securesite.chireader.com/cgi-bin/Archive/abridged2.bat?path=2001/011214/HOTTYPE&search=Holley|title=Reader Archive-Extract: 2001/011214/HOTTYPE|publisher=Securesite.chireader.com|access-date=September 26, 2009}}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He ultimately returned to ''[[The Boston Globe]]'', where he had been working immediately before the ''Tribune'' had hired him.<ref name="chireader"/>

On September 15, 2002, Lipinski wrote a terse, page-one note informing readers that the paper's longtime columnist, [[Bob Greene]], resigned effective immediately after acknowledging "engaging in inappropriate sexual conduct some years ago with a girl in her late teens whom he met in connection with his newspaper column." The conduct later was revealed to have occurred in 1988 with a woman who was of the age of consent in Illinois. "Greene's behavior was a serious violation of ''Tribune'' ethics and standards for its journalists," Lipinski wrote. "We deeply regret the conduct, its effect on the young woman and the impact this disclosure has on the trust our readers placed in Greene and this newspaper."<ref>{{cite news|first=Ann Marie|last=Lipinski|title=To our readers|work=Chicago Tribune|page=1|date=September 15, 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Pappu|first=Sridhar|url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/hottype/2002/020920_1.html|title=Articles & Archives|newspaper=Chicago Reader|access-date=September 26, 2009|archive-date=February 26, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226002510/http://www.chicagoreader.com/hottype/2002/020920_1.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In January 2003, [[Mike Downey (columnist)|Mike Downey]], formerly of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', was hired as new ''Tribune'' sports columnist. He and colleague Rick Morrissey would write the ''In the Wake of the News Column'' originated by [[Ring Lardner]].

In March 2004, the ''Tribune'' announced that freelance reporter [[Uli Schmetzer]], who retired from the ''Tribune'' in 2002 after 16&nbsp;years as a foreign correspondent, had fabricated the name and occupation of a person he had quoted in a story. The paper terminated Schmetzer as a contract reporter and began a review of the 300 stories that Schmetzer had written over the prior three years.<ref>{{cite news|first=Don|last=Wycliff|title=From the Public Editor – How a journalist's career came undone|work=Chicago Tribune|page=27|date=March 5, 2004}}</ref>

In May 2004, the ''Tribune'' revealed that freelance reporter [[Mark Falanga]] was unable to verify some facts that he inserted in a lifestyle-related column that ran on April 18, 2004, about an expensive lunch at a Chicago restaurant—namely, that the restaurant charged $15 for a bottle of water and $35 for a pasta entree. "Upon questioning, the freelance writer indicated the column was based on an amalgam of three restaurants and could not verify the prices," the paper noted.<ref>{{cite news|first=Mark|last=Falanga|title=Mr. Big City feels like Mr. Big Idiot|work=Chicago Tribune|page=11|date=April 18, 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Corrections and Clarifications|work=Chicago Tribune|page=2|date=May 9, 2004}}</ref> After the correction, the ''Tribune'' stopped using Falanga.

In October 2004, ''Tribune'' editor [[Ann Marie Lipinski]] at the last minute spiked a story written for the paper's WomanNews section by freelance reporter [[Lisa Bertagnoli]] titled "You c_nt say that (or can you?)," about a noted [[vulgarism]].<ref name="chicagoreader.com">{{cite news|last=Joravsky|first=Ben|url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/hottype/2004/041105_1.html|title=Articles & Archives|newspaper=Chicago Reader|access-date=September 26, 2009|archive-date=August 8, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808023258/http://www.chicagoreader.com/hottype/2004/041105_1.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The paper ordered every spare body to go to the ''Tribune''{{'}}s printing plant to pull already-printed WomanNews sections containing the story from the October 27 package of preprinted sections in the ''Tribune''.<ref name="chicagoreader.com"/>

In September 2008, the ''Tribune'' considered hiring controversial sports columnist [[Jay Mariotti]], shortly after his abrupt resignation from ''Tribune'' archrival ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]''.<ref name="archives.chicagotribune.com">{{cite news|last=Kirk|first=Jim|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2008/sep/16/magazine/red-080916mariotti-talks|title=Former ''Sun-Times'' columnist Mariotti not joining ''Tribune'' – ''Chicago Tribune''|publisher=Archives.chicagotribune.com|date=September 16, 2008|access-date=September 26, 2009}}</ref> Discussions ultimately ended, however, after the ''Sun-Times'' threatened to sue for violating Mariotti's noncompete agreement, which was to run until August 2009.<ref name="archives.chicagotribune.com"/> Sports columnist Rick Morrissey defected to the ''Sun-Times'' in December 2009.

In April 2009, 55 Tribune reporters and editors signed their names to an e-mail sent to Kern and managing editor Jane Hirt, questioning why the newspaper's marketing department had solicited subscribers' opinions on stories before they were published, and suggesting that the practice raised ethical questions as well as legal and competitive issues. Reporters declined to speak on the record to the Associated Press about their issues. "We'll let the e-mail speak for itself," reporter John Chase told the AP. In the wake of the controversy, Kern abruptly discontinued the effort, which he described as "a brief market research project".<ref name="sdut30apr2009">{{cite news | url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2009/apr/30/us-tribune-reader-survey-043009/ | title=Reader survey of stories roils tribune newsroom | work=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=April 30, 2009 | agency=Associated Press | access-date=November 25, 2015 | first=Herbert G. | last=McCann | archive-date=November 25, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151125223142/http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2009/apr/30/us-tribune-reader-survey-043009/ | url-status=dead }}</ref>

In the first decade of the 21st century, the ''Tribune'' had multiple rounds of reductions of staff through layoffs and buyouts as it has coped with the industrywide declines in advertising revenues:
* In December 2005, the ''Tribune'' eliminated 28 editorial positions through a combination of buyouts and layoffs, including what were believed to be the first layoffs in the paper's history.<ref name="Rosenthal 1">{{cite news|first=Phil|last=Rosenthal|title=28 newsroom jobs, New City News cut by Tribune|work=Chicago Tribune|page=1|date=December 2, 2005}}</ref> Among the reporters who left the paper in that round were Carol Kleiman, Bill Jauss and Connie Lauerman.<ref name="Rosenthal 1"/>
* In June 2007, about 25 newsroom employees took buyouts, including well-known bylines like [[Charles Madigan]], Michael Hirsley and Ronald Kotulak, along with noted photographer [[Pete Souza]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newstips.org/print.php?section=&main_id=762|title=Community Media Workshop|publisher=Newstips.org|access-date=September 26, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727122322/http://www.newstips.org/print.php/?section=&main_id=762|archive-date=July 27, 2011}}</ref>
* In March 2008, the paper gave buyouts to about 25 newsroom employees, including sportswriter [[Sam Smith (sportswriter)|Sam Smith]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Miner|first=Michael|url=http://blogs.chicagoreader.com/news-bites/2008/03/19/alan-solomon-crazy/|title=Is Alan Solomon crazy? &#124; The Blog &#124; Chicago Reader|publisher=Blogs.chicagoreader.com|date=March 19, 2008|access-date=September 26, 2009|archive-date=December 7, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207123404/http://blogs.chicagoreader.com/news-bites/2008/03/19/alan-solomon-crazy/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* On August 15, 2008, the ''Tribune'' laid-off more than 40 newsroom and other editorial employees, including reporters Rick Popely, Ray Quintanilla, [[Lew Freedman]], Michael Martinez and Robert Manor.<ref name="blogs.chicagoreader.com">{{cite web|last=Miner|first=Michael|url=http://blogs.chicagoreader.com/news-bites/2008/08/17/tribune-casualty-list/|title=The Tribune casualty list &#124; The Blog &#124; Chicago Reader|publisher=Blogs.chicagoreader.com|date=August 17, 2008|access-date=September 26, 2009|archive-date=December 1, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201210357/http://blogs.chicagoreader.com/news-bites/2008/08/17/tribune-casualty-list/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Also in August 2008, about 36 editorial employees took voluntary buyouts or resigned, including well-known bylines like Michael Tackett, Ron Silverman, Timothy McNulty, Ed Sherman, Evan Osnos, Steve Franklin, Maurice Possley, Hanke Gratteau, Chuck Osgood and Skip Myslenski.<ref name="blogs.chicagoreader.com"/><ref>{{cite web|last=Miner|first=Michael|url=http://blogs.chicagoreader.com/news-bites/2008/08/18/paul-salopek-correction/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924091704/http://blogs.chicagoreader.com/news-bites/2008/08/18/paul-salopek-correction/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 24, 2008|title=Paul Salopek Correction &#124; The Blog &#124; Chicago Reader|publisher=Blogs.chicagoreader.com|date=August 18, 2008|access-date=September 26, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Miner|first=Michael|url=http://blogs.chicagoreader.com/news-bites/2008/08/18/more-trib-losses/|title=More Trib Losses &#124; The Blog &#124; Chicago Reader|publisher=Blogs.chicagoreader.com|date=August 18, 2008|access-date=September 26, 2009|archive-date=December 1, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201210454/http://blogs.chicagoreader.com/news-bites/2008/08/18/more-trib-losses/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Phil|last=Rosenthal|title=Tribune cuts 40 more in newsroom – 2-week total 80 as paper works to stem losses|work=Chicago Tribune|page=3|date=August 16, 2008}}</ref>
* On November 12, 2008, five editorial employees in the paper's Washington, D.C. bureau were laid off, including [[John Crewdson]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Miner|first=Michael|url=http://blogs.chicagoreader.com/news-bites/2008/11/12/tribune-lays-john-crewdson-others/|title=Tribune lays off John Crewdson, others &#124; The Blog &#124; Chicago Reader|publisher=Blogs.chicagoreader.com|date=November 12, 2008|access-date=September 26, 2009|archive-date=March 15, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090315090339/http://blogs.chicagoreader.com/news-bites/2008/11/12/tribune-lays-john-crewdson-others/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* On December 4, 2008, about 11 newsroom employees were laid-off, with one sports columnist, [[Mike Downey (columnist)|Mike Downey]], having departed several weeks earlier when his contract was not renewed. Well-known bylines who were laid off included Neil Milbert, Stevenson Swanson, Lisa Anderson, Phil Marty, Charles Storch, Courtney Flynn and Deborah Horan.<ref>{{cite web|last=Miner|first=Michael|url=http://blogs.chicagoreader.com/news-bites/2008/12/04/more-tribune-layoffs/|title=More Tribune layoffs &#124; The Blog &#124; Chicago Reader|publisher=Blogs.chicagoreader.com|date=December 4, 2008|access-date=September 26, 2009|archive-date=December 23, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081223202707/http://blogs.chicagoreader.com/news-bites/2008/12/04/more-tribune-layoffs/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* In February 2009, the ''Tribune'' laid off about 20 editorial employees, including several foreign correspondents, and some feature reporters and editors, although several, including Charles Leroux and Jeff Lyon, technically took buyouts. Among those who were let go were reporters Emily Nunn, Susan Chandler, Christine Spolar and Joel Greenberg.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=32995|title=Chicago Tribune trims newsroom staff &#124; Crain's Chicago Business|publisher=Chicagobusiness.com|date=February 12, 2009|access-date=September 26, 2009}}</ref><ref name="chicagobusiness.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=33660|title=Trib to pare newsroom 20% &#124; Crain's Chicago Business|publisher=Chicagobusiness.com|date=April 13, 2009|access-date=September 26, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Miner|first=Michael|url=http://blogs.chicagoreader.com/news-bites/2009/02/12/more-layoffs-tribune/|title=More layoffs at Tribune &#124; The Blog &#124; Chicago Reader|publisher=Blogs.chicagoreader.com|date=February 12, 2009|access-date=September 26, 2009|archive-date=March 21, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090321195417/http://blogs.chicagoreader.com/news-bites/2009/02/12/more-layoffs-tribune/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* On April 22, 2009, the paper laid off 53 newsroom employees, including well-known bylines like Patrick Reardon, Melissa Isaacson, Russell Working, Jo Napolitano, Susan Diesenhouse, Beth Botts, Lou Carlozo, Jessica Reaves, Tom Hundley, Alan Artner, Eric Benderoff, James P. Miller, Bob Sakamoto, Terry Bannon and John Mullin.<ref>{{cite news|last=Miner|first=Michael|url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2009/04/22/53-out-at-tribune--victims-of-changing-priorities|title=53 out at Tribune – victims of "changing priorities" &#124; The Blog|newspaper=Chicago Reader|date=April 22, 2009|access-date=September 26, 2009}}</ref> That number was less than the 90 newsroom jobs that Crain's Chicago Business previously had reported were to be eliminated.<ref name="chicagobusiness.com"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://newscycle.wordpress.com/2009/04/13/crains-chicago-tribune-to-lay-off-20-percent-of-newsroom/|title=Crain's: Chicago Tribune to Lay Off 20 Percent of Newsroom « News Cycle|date=April 14, 2009|publisher=Newscycle.wordpress.com|access-date=September 26, 2009}}</ref>

The ''Tribune'' broke the story on May 29, 2009, that several students had been admitted to the University of Illinois based upon connections or recommendations by the school's Board of Trustees, Chicago politicians, and members of the [[Rod Blagojevich]] administration. Initially denying the existence of a so-called "Category I" admissions program, university President B. Joseph "Joe" White and Chancellor Richard Herman later admitted that there were instances of preferential treatment. Although they claimed the list was short and their role was minor, the ''Tribune'', in particular, revealed emails through a FOIA finding that White had received a recommendation for a relative of convicted fundraiser [[Tony Rezko]] to be admitted. The Tribune also later posted emails from Herman pushing for underqualified students to be accepted.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2009/06/09/pols_press_for_hearings_in_uis_cloutgate_scandal |title=Pols press for hearings in UI's 'Cloutgate' scandal |newspaper=[[The News-Gazette (Champaign-Urbana)|The News-Gazette]] |date=June 9, 2009 |access-date=January 4, 2016 |location=[[Champaign–Urbana metropolitan area|Champaign-Urbana, Illinois]] |first=Julie |last=Wurth}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=June 7, 2009 |url=http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/06/university-of-illinois-boland-white.html |title=U. of I. leaders urged to resign |publisher=Chicago Breaking News |access-date=September 26, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090622190437/http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/06/university-of-illinois-boland-white.html |archive-date=June 22, 2009 }}</ref> The ''Tribune'' has since filed suit against the university administration under the [[Freedom of Information Act (United States)|Freedom of Information Act]] to acquire the names of students benefited by administrative clout and impropriety.

On February 8, 2010, the ''Chicago Tribune'' shrank its newspaper's width by an inch. They said that the new format was becoming the industry standard and that there would be minimal content changes.

In July 2011, the ''Chicago Tribune'' underwent its first round of layoffs of editorial employees in more than two years, letting go about 20 editors and reporters.<ref name="timeoutchicago.com">{{cite magazine |url=http://timeoutchicago.com/arts-culture/chicago-media-blog/14864443/newsroom-layoffs-show-tribune%E2%80%99s-true-colors |title=Newsroom layoffs show Tribune's true colors |magazine=Time Out Chicago |date=July 22, 2011 |access-date=March 2, 2013 |archive-date=May 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512163052/http://www.timeoutchicago.com/arts-culture/chicago-media-blog/14864443/newsroom-layoffs-show-tribune%E2%80%99s-true-colors |url-status=dead }}</ref> Among those let go were DuPage County reporter [[Art Barnum]], Editorial Board member [[Pat Widder]] and photographer [[Dave Pierini]].<ref name="timeoutchicago.com"/><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://timeoutchicago.com/arts-culture/chicago-media-blog/14865769/radio-101-new-station-has-a-lot-to-learn-before-it%E2%80%99s-ready- |title=Radio 101: New station has a lot to learn before it's ready for |magazine=Time Out Chicago |date=July 25, 2011 |access-date=March 2, 2013}}</ref>

On March 15, 2012, the ''Tribune'' laid off 15 editorial staffers, including security guard [[Wendell Smothers]] (Smothers then died on November 12, 2012).<ref name="timeoutchicago">{{cite web|url=http://www.timeoutchicago.com/arts-culture/chicago-media-blog/15189846/tribune-stops-the-presses-for-15-more-staffers|title=Tribune stops the presses for 15 more staffers|publisher= Time Out Chicago|access-date=January 27, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201182354/http://www.timeoutchicago.com/arts-culture/chicago-media-blog/15189846/tribune-stops-the-presses-for-15-more-staffers|archive-date=February 1, 2014}}</ref><ref name="chicagotribune">{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2012-11-16-ct-met-smothers-obit-20121116-story.html|title=Wendell Smothers, 1960–2012|date=November 16, 2012 |publisher=Chicago Tribune|access-date=June 19, 2020}}</ref> At the same time, the paper gave buyouts to six editorial staffers, including Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter William Mullen, Barbara Mahany and Nancy Reese.<ref name="chicagoreader">{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2012/02/10/bill-mullen|title=Bill Mullen|date=February 11, 2012|publisher=Chicago Reader|access-date=January 27, 2014}}</ref>

In June 2012, the ''Tribune''{{'}}s Pulitzer Prize-winning cultural critic [[Julia Keller]] left the paper to join the faculty of [[Ohio University]] and to pursue a career as a novelist.<ref name="timeoutchicago2">{{cite web|url=http://www.timeoutchicago.com/arts-culture/chicago-media-blog/15360851/keller-to-end-%E2%80%98extraordinary-journey%E2%80%99-as-tribune-critic|title=Keller to end 'extraordinary journey' as Tribune critic|publisher=Time Out Chicago|access-date=January 27, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201182342/http://www.timeoutchicago.com/arts-culture/chicago-media-blog/15360851/keller-to-end-%E2%80%98extraordinary-journey%E2%80%99-as-tribune-critic|archive-date=February 1, 2014}}</ref>

In September 2012, ''Tribune'' education reporter Joel Hood resigned from the paper to become a real estate broker, City Hall reporter Kristen Mack left the paper to become press secretary for Cook County Board President [[Toni Preckwinkle]],<ref>{{cite web |last=Feder |first=Robert |url=https://www.timeout.com/chicago/tv/wls-fm-mornings-go-in-different-direction-without-fogel |title=WLS-FM mornings go in 'different direction' without Fogel |publisher=Timeout.com |date=September 27, 2012 |access-date=April 7, 2015 |archive-date=November 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121131914/http://www.timeout.com/chicago/tv/wls-fm-mornings-go-in-different-direction-without-fogel |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the ''Tribune'' hired Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer [[John J. Kim]] from the ''Chicago Sun-Times''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Feder |first=Robert |url=https://www.timeout.com/chicago/tv/konkol-leaves-sun-times-to-write-for-dnainfo-chicago |title=Konkol leaves Sun-Times to write for DNAInfo Chicago |publisher=Timeout.com |date=September 24, 2012 |access-date=April 7, 2015 |archive-date=April 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418142432/http://www.timeout.com/chicago/tv/konkol-leaves-sun-times-to-write-for-dnainfo-chicago |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In October 2012, the ''Tribune''{{'}}s science and medicine reporter, Trine Tsouderos, quit to join a public relations firm.<ref>{{cite web |last=Feder |first=Robert |url=https://www.timeout.com/chicago/tv/former-radio-sex-therapist-finds-her-eden-in-hawaii |title=Former radio sex therapist finds her Eden in Hawaii |publisher=Timeout.com |date=October 15, 2012 |access-date=April 7, 2015 |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402065759/http://www.timeout.com/chicago/tv/former-radio-sex-therapist-finds-her-eden-in-hawaii |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Also in October 2012, the ''Tribune'' announced plans to create a paywall for its website, offering digital-only subscriptions at $14.99 per month, starting on November 1, 2012. Seven-day print subscribers would continue to have unlimited online access at no additional charge.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-xpm-2012-10-18-chi-tribune-sets-pay-wall-at-1499-per-month-20121018-story.html|title=Tribune sets pay wall on some content at $14.99 per month|publisher=Chicago Tribune |date=October 18, 2012 |access-date=June 19, 2020}}</ref>

In February 2013, the ''Tribune'' agreed to pay a total of $660,000 to settle a class-action lawsuit that had been filed against the paper by 46 current and former reporters of its TribLocal local-news reporting group over unpaid overtime wages.<ref name="ChicTrib">{{cite web|url= https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-xpm-2013-03-01-chi-triblocal-reporters-win-660k-in-classaction-against-tribune-co-20130301-story.html |title=TribLocal reporters win $660K in class-action against Tribune Co.|publisher=Chicago Tribune |date=March 1, 2013 |access-date=June 19, 2020}}</ref> The suit had been filed in federal court on behalf of Carolyn Rusin, who had been a TribLocal staff reporter from July 2010 until October 2011.<ref name="ChicTrib"/> The paper's TribLocal unit had been formed in 2007 and uses staff reporters, freelance writers and user-generated content to produce hyperlocal Chicago-area community news.<ref name="ChicTrib"/>

On June 12, 2013, the [[Boston Marathon bombing]] tribute was posted again, which showed the words "We are Chicago" above the names of Boston sports teams.<ref name=apology>{{cite news |title=Chicago Tribune apologizes for hockey-related joke about Boston Marathon bombing |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/chicago-tribune-apologizes-for-hockey-related-joke-about-boston-marathon-bombing/2013/06/14/017c8c36-d52e-11e2-b3a2-3bf5eb37b9d0_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=June 14, 2013 |access-date=June 17, 2013 |archive-date=June 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616121809/http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/chicago-tribune-apologizes-for-hockey-related-joke-about-boston-marathon-bombing/2013/06/14/017c8c36-d52e-11e2-b3a2-3bf5eb37b9d0_story.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> On the graphic on June 12, the word "Bruins" was ripped off and the comment was added, "Yeah, not right now we're not", in a reference to the [[2013 Stanley Cup Finals]], which play the [[Chicago Blackhawks]] against the [[Boston Bruins]].<ref name=apology/> Gerould Kern tweeted later that the ''Tribune'' "still supports [Boston] after all you've been through. We regret any offense. Now let's play hockey."<ref name=apology/>

On November 20, 2013, the ''Tribune'' laid off another 12 or so editorial staffers.<ref name="robertfeder">{{cite web|url=http://www.robertfeder.com/2013/11/20/stop-the-presses-layoffs-hit-tribune-co/|title=Stop the presses: Layoffs hit ''Tribune'' |publisher=Robert Feder |date=November 20, 2013 |access-date=January 27, 2014}}</ref>

On April 6, 2014, the ''Tribune'' increased the [[newsstand]] price of its Sunday/Thanksgiving Day paper by 50 percent to $2.99 for a single copy. The newsrack price increased $0.75, or 42.9%, to $2.50.<ref>{{cite web|last=Feder |first=Robert |url=http://www.robertfeder.com/2014/04/06/sunday-tribune-hikes-price-50/ |title=Sunday Tribune hikes price 50% |publisher=Robertfeder.com |date=April 6, 2014 |access-date=April 7, 2015}}</ref> By January 2017 the price increased again, up $1 or 40% at newsracks, to $3.50. At newsstands it went up also $1, or 33.3%, to $3.99.

On January 28, 2015, metropolitan editor Peter Kendall was named managing editor, replacing Jane Hirt, who had resigned several months earlier. Colin McMahon was named associate editor.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/ct-tribune-managing-editor-0129-biz-20150127-story.html|title=Chicago Tribune names new senior editors|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Channick, Robert|date=January 28, 2015 |access-date=April 7, 2015|archive-date=April 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407004322/http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/ct-tribune-managing-editor-0129-biz-20150127-story.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On February 18, 2016, the Tribune announced the retirement of editor Gerould Kern and the immediate promotion of the paper's editorial page editor, R. Bruce Dold, to be the Tribune's editor.<ref name="auto"/>

On June 9, 2018, the Tribune ended their 93-year stint at Tribune Tower and moved to [[One Prudential Plaza]]. The tower was later converted to condos.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Leaving Tribune Tower: 'The world's most beautiful office building' |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-flash-tribune-tower-move-newsroom-building-0603-20180529-story.html |access-date=May 8, 2022 |website=Chicago Tribune |date=June 2, 2018 |language=en |first1=Ron |last1=Grossman }}</ref>