Tribune confirms suburban acquisition, no changes for now

Chicago-based Tribune Publishing confirmed Friday its acquisition of a chain of suburban newspapers from Wrapports LLC, the parent of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Tribune Media Group CEO Tony Hunter said during an interview that there are no plans, at least through the end of this year, to change staffing or any of the print or digital versions of the six daily and 32 weekly suburban news products. Tribune will also take on about 150 employees from Wrapports, he said.

"We see these as complementary acquisitions and want to increase our hyperlocal coverage," Hunter said.

The Tribune also operates Trib Local, its suburban news brands that are expected to remain all under the same company.

Hunter declined to disclose the value of the deal.

Information about a deal began leaking last week, with neither Tribune and Wrapports confirming the sale until now. The acquired publications include The Beacon-News in Aurora, The Elgin Courier-News, the Lake County News-Sun, The Naperville Sun, the Post-Tribune in Northwest Indiana, The SouthtownStar and the 32 Pioneer Press weekly newspapers. They will become part of the diversified portfolio of the Chicago Tribune Media Group (CTMG), which operates the Chicago Tribune, RedEye and other Chicago-based media brands. The acquired papers have collective circulations of 72,000 daily, 87,000 Sunday and 52,000 weekly.

In addition to acquiring these suburban newspapers, CTMG announced a long-term agreement to continue printing and distributing the Chicago Sun-Times, also owned by Wrapports. This new agreement solidifies the continuation of this key commercial relationship for the company, Tribune said.

CTMG has printed the Sun-Times since 2011 and distributed the newspaper since 2007.

To oversee the newly acquired publications, Tribune Publishing appointed Bob Fleck, who recently served as executive vice president of advertising and spent 22 years at the Chicago Tribune in numerous managerial capacities. He assumes his role as publisher and general manager immediately and will report to Tony Hunter.

"This transaction allows Wrapports to focus on our international digital strategy and to financially strengthen the Chicago Sun-Times," Wrapports Chairman Michael Ferro said in a statement. "We will invest in the Sun Times Network and Cube Network while ensuring the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper remains journalistically independent and on financially sound footing for many years to come."

Earlier this week, Wrapports launched the Sun-Times Network, a new mobile-first app network in 70 U.S. cities featuring content from Chicago Sun-Times reporters and columnists and original and curated news and content in each local market.

Wrapports recently completed a $14 million round of funding for the Sun Times Network, including an investment from a company controlled by Irish media and technology investor Denis O'Brien, the chairman and founder of wireless phone company Digicel.

The Chicago Newspaper Guild, the union that represents about 45 reporters at Pioneer Press, Lake County New Sun and Post Tribune, is looking forward to working with the Tribune as their contracts transfer over and staffing levels are expected to remain the same, said union Executive Director Craig Rosenbaum.

Suburban newspapers poised for change?