Sun-Times Media and Tribune Publishing said Monday they have reached an agreement for continued printing and distribution of the Chicago Sun-Times. Terms of the agreement were not announced.
The Sun-Times’ contract with the owner of the Chicago Tribune had been due to expire at the end of this year. Both newspapers are produced at the Freedom Center plant at 777 W. Chicago Ave., which Tribune operates under a lease.
Published reports in 2017 said the contract cost the Sun-Times about $25 million per year. Sources close to the Sun-Times said the new agreement provides considerable savings.
In an email to Sun-Times Media employees, Interim CEO Nykia Wright said, “We’ve succeeded in restructuring and extending our agreement with Tribune Publishing to print and deliver the Sun-Times. While we still have much work to do, the new contract represents a positive step forward in improving the financial health of our business.
“As part of this, there will be some adjustments to our deadlines and production process that we hope will grow our readership and keep us serving our city and region for years to come.’’
Tilden Katz, a spokesman for Tribune Publishing, confirmed the contract extension but declined additional comment.
The Sun-Times closed its own printing plant and hired Tribune for the work in 2011. Since then, newspaper publishers nationwide have seen major declines in advertising and circulation revenues as digital consumption of news increases.
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The Freedom Center property is being marketed for a potential multi-use development and had been part of the city’s failed bid to attract Amazon’s corporate headquarters.
With a lease on the property until 2023 and two 10-year renewal options after that, Tribune would have to be bought out if any developer wanted to evict the printing presses.
