Much Chicago talent walks out the metaphoric door of the Chicago Sun-Times Friday, a consequence of buyouts offered to help plug what reportedly is a multimillion dollar operational deficit at our tabloid rival. The Sun-Times, now part of a joint nonprofit venture with the WBEZ radio station, an NPR affiliate, gets to save a little more than $4 million and avoid involuntary layoffs; Chicagoans who love consuming news in return lose some 23 of their most experienced sources.
Needless to say, we know the painful drill all too well. Whether for-profit or nonprofit, newspapering is a tough if still vital business.
We mostly just want to pay tribute here to those writers and editors making their exit, especially our experienced opposite numbers on the Sun-Times editorial board, including editorial page editor Lorraine Forte and board members Thomas Frisbie and Marlen Garcia. We’ve long been of the view that having strong competition makes all of us better and we can think of plenty of times when the Sun-Times’ respected (and fast-moving) editorial board said something we wished we’d thought of first.
Richard Roeper, the long-running and ever-lively movie critic who links the paper to the glory days of Roger Ebert’s famous partnership with our late, great Gene Siskel, is leaving too. So are many other similarly experienced writers and editors, including several names who enjoy great currency with fans in this sports-loving city.
Many, we’re sure, will find ways to stay in the conversation and still engage with their loyal readers. It’s also important to note that many fine journalists will remain at the Sun-Times, mission-oriented folks determined to bring you the news and analysis of the day, every day.
Still, this city owes this particular class of journalistic excellence a debt of thanks. The Tribune tips its collective hat to all of you.
Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
