Chicago Tribune to Launch Weekday Tabloid Edition

Posted on October 11, 2002

The Chicago Tribune is launching RedEye, a new tabloid style publication targeted at young readers. RedEye is a new weekday edition of the Chicago Tribune, offering a unique approach to news and entertainment that will debut within the next month. Through RedEye, the Tribune wants to attract more younger readers and the advertisers who want to reach them. Currently only about one-half of all adults aged 18-34 read print editions of Chicago Tribune at least once a week. ChicagoBusiness.com reported that the Chicago Sun-Times, the Chicago Tribune's competitor, will be launching a similar publication in November.

"For a daily read to capture the attention of more young adults, it has to understand their interests and feel like something written specifically for them," said John O'Loughlin, RedEye's new general manager.

The Tribune said the RedEye's tightly-edited mix of topical news and features coupled with its daily frequency helps it stand out from other publications targeting young adults. A key feature of RedEye will be content from metromix.com, the Tribune's online entertainment guide.

"If readers give us 20 minutes, we'll make the most of their time," said Jane Hirt, RedEye co-editor. "We'll plug them in each day on everything from the top news stories to the hottest celebrity gossip, and not always in that order."

The tabloid-size RedEye edition will carry a cover price of 25 cents, and be distributed Monday-Friday at outlets and venues including retail stores, newspaper boxes and also locations near where younger urban consumers live and play-health clubs, bars, restaurants, coffee houses, campuses, book stores, to name a few.

In addition to O'Loughlin and Hirt, RedEye's management team includes co-editor Joe Knowles, circulation manager Howard Filip, marketing manager Tim Dillon, business manager Brad Moore and advertising sales manager Tom Schager.