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The San Diego Union-Tribune

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"The Evening Tribune" redirects here. For the New York newspaper, seeThe Evening Tribune (Hornell).

The San Diego Union-Tribune
May 23, 2015, front page
TypeDaily newspaper
FormatBroadsheet
Owner(s)Alden Global Capital
Founder(s)William Jeff Gatewood
PublisherRon Hasse[1]
EditorLora Cicalo[2]
Founded1868;156 years ago(1868)(asThe San Diego Union)
LanguageEnglish
Headquarters600 B Street
San Diego,California,United States
Circulation121,321 Daily
160,154 Sunday (as of 2017)[3]
ISSN1063-102X
Websitesandiegouniontribune.com

The San Diego Union-Tribuneis a metropolitandaily newspaperpublished inSan Diego, California,that has run since 1868. Its name derives from a 1992 merger between the two major daily newspapers at the time,The San Diego Unionand theSan Diego Evening Tribune.The name changed toU-T San Diegoin 2012 but was changed again toThe San Diego Union-Tribunein 2015.[4]

In 2015, the newspaper was acquired byTribune Publishing.In February 2018 it was announced to be sold, along with theLos Angeles Times,toPatrick Soon-Shiong's investment firm Nant Capital LLC for $500 million plus $90 million in pension liabilities.[5]The sale was completed on June 18, 2018.[6]In July 2023, Soon-Shiong sold the paper toAlden Global Capital.[7]

History

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San Diego Unionbuilding,c. 1870s
San Diego Sunbuilding, 1908
San Diego Daily Beebuilding, 1908
The San Diego Union-Tribune Building, 2022

Predecessors

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The predecessor newspapers of theUnion-Tribunewere:[8][9]

  • San Diego Herald,founded 1851 and closed April 7, 1860;John Judson Ameswas its first editor and proprietor.[10]
  • San Diego Sun,founded 1861 and merged with theEvening Tribunein 1939.
  • San Diego Union,founded October 3, 1868.[11]: 296 
  • San Diego Evening Tribune,founded December 2, 1895.

In addition, theSan Diego Unionpurchased theSan Diego Daily Beein 1888, and for a brief time the combined newspaper was named theSan Diego Union and Daily Bee.[12]

Copley Press

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Both theUnionand theTribunewere acquired byCopley Pressin 1928[13]and were merged on February 2, 1992. The merged newspaper was sold to the private investment groupPlatinum EquityofBeverly Hills,California, on March 18, 2009.[14]

Platinum Equity

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On August 17, 2010, theUnion-Tribunechanged its design to improve "clarity, legibility, and ease of use". Changes included being printed on thinner, 100 percent recycled paper, moving the comics to the back of the business section, and abbreviating the titleThe San Diego Union-Tribuneon the front page toU-T San Diego.[15]TheU-Tnameplate was created by Jim Parkinson, atype designerwho also created nameplates forThe Rolling Stone,Esquire,andNewsweek.[16]

MLIM Holdings

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In November 2011, Platinum Equity sold the newspaper to MLIM Holdings, a company led byDoug Manchester,a San Diego real estate developer and "an outspoken supporter of conservative causes". The purchase price was reportedly in excess of $110 million.[17]Manchester built two landmark downtown hotels, theManchester Grand Hyatt Hoteland theSan Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina.His group also owns the Grand Del Mar luxury resort in San Diego.[18]

U-T San Diego

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Logo between 2012 and 2015
Logo in 2011

On January 3, 2012, the newspaper announced that it would use the nameU-T San Diego"on all of our media products and communications"; the newspaper's website (formerly called "SignOn San Diego" and available under SignOnSanDiego.com) would use the name UTSanDiego.com. The official announcement explained the change as being intended to "unify our print and digital products under a single brand with a clear and consistent expectation of quality".[19][20][21]

U-T San Diegobought theNorth County Timesin September 2012.[22]On October 15, 2012, theNorth County Timesceased publication and became theU-T North County Times,which was an edition of theU-Twith some North County–specific content.[23]Six months later theU-T North County Timesname was dropped and the newspaper became a North County edition of theU-T.[24]In November 2013, the newspaper bought eight more local weekly newspapers (La Jolla Light, Del Mar Times, Rancho Santa Fe Review, Poway News Chieftain, Rancho Bernardo & 4S Ranch News Journal, the Solana Beach Sun, the Carmel Valley News and the Ramona Sentinel) in the San Diego area, which continued publication under their own names.[25]In 2014,U-T San Diegolaunched a ninth paper, theEncinitas Advocate.[26]

In 2012,U-T San DiegolaunchedU-T TV,a televisionnews channel.The network featured news, lifestyle, and editorial content produced by the newspaper's staff, and was created as part of the newspaper's growing emphasis on multi-platform content under Manchester. On February 20, 2014, U-T TV was dropped from cable, and lacked crucial carriage from Time Warner Cable. The channel remaining staff was retained to produce video content for the newspaper's digital properties.[27]

Tribune Publishing ownership

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On May 7, 2015, it was announced that theTribune Publishing Company,publisher of theLos Angeles Times,theChicago Tribune,and other newspapers, had reached a deal to acquireU-T San Diegoand its associated properties for $85 million. The sale ended the newspaper's 146 years of private ownership. The transaction was completed on May 21, 2015. On the same date, the newspaper reintroduced its previous branding asThe San Diego Union-Tribune.[4]

TheUnion-Tribuneand theLos Angeles Timesbecame part of a new operating entity known as the California News Group, with both newspapers led byTimespublisher and chief executive officerAustin Beutner.The two newspapers reportedly would retain distinct operations, but there would be a larger amount of synergy and content sharing between them.

The acquisition did not include the newspaper's headquarters, which was retained by Manchester and would be leased by the newspaper.[28][29]

On May 26, 2015, the newspaper announced it wouldlay off178 employees, representing about thirty percent of the total staff, as it consolidated its printing operations with theTimesin Los Angeles.[30]In 2016,The San Diego Union Tribuneacquired the monthly entertainment magazinePacific San Diego.[31]On June 13, 2015, at 10:02 p.m. PDT the final run ofThe San Diego Union Tribunewas printed at the San Diego headquarters in Mission Valley began.[32]It was to print the Sunday edition newspaper for June 14, 2015. The following Monday's newspaper would be printed at theLos Angeles Timeslocation. The dismantling of the printing presses in Mission Valley began in mid-September 2015.

Purchase by Patrick Soon-Shiong

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In February 2018, a deal was reached to sell theUnion-TribunetoPatrick Soon-Shiong,a medical doctor who has made billions as a biotech entrepreneur. The deal also included theLos Angeles Timesand multiple community newspapers.[33]The sale closed on June 18, 2018.[6]

Sale to Alden Global Capital

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On July 10, 2023, it was announced that the U-T was sold to theMediaNews Group,owned byAlden Global Capital,for an undisclosed sum. Soon-Shiong retained ownership of the Los Angeles Times. MediaNews Group already owns about 200 publications, including theChicago Tribune,and is the parent company of theSouthern California News Group.MediaNews Group immediately announced that employees will be offered buyouts to resign, and that if not enough employees take up the offer, additional layoffs will be necessary.[7]

In December 2023, the newspaper announced the last issue ofU-T en Español,its Spanish-language tabloid, will be published on Dec. 30.[34]

On June 13, 2024, a newly redesigned website was launched, similar to other newspapers in the Alden Global Capital group, replacing a design that was used for theLos Angeles Times.[35]

Headquarters

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The newspaper was originally located inOld Town San Diego,and was moved todowntown San Diegoin 1871. In 1973, it moved to a custom-built, brick and stone office and printing plant complex inMission Valley.

The newspaper moved back downtown in May 2016, to offices on the 9th through 12th floors of a tower at 600 B Street. The Union-Tribune was to be the named tenant of the building, replacing Bridgepoint Education and, before that, Comerica.[36]

Awards

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Pulitzer Prizes

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  • 1979,Breaking News Reporting: San DiegoEvening Tribunefor its coverage of thePSA Flight 182jetliner collision with a small plane overNorth Park.[37]
  • 1987,Editorial Writing: San DiegoEvening Tribuneeditorial writer Jonathan Freedman for his editorials urging passage of the first major immigration reform act in 34 years.[38]
  • 2006,National Reporting: The San DiegoUnion-Tribuneand Copley News Service (with notable work byMarcus Sternand Jerry Kammer), for their disclosure of bribe-taking that sent former Rep.Randy "Duke" Cunninghamto prison "in disgrace".[39]They also received theGeorge Polk Award[40]for these stories.
  • 2009,Editorial Cartooning:Steve Breen"for his agile use of a classic style to produce wide ranging cartoons that engage readers with power, clarity and humor".

Criticisms

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Copleys and Platinum Equity

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Under the Copleys' ownership, the newspaper had a reliably conservative editorial position, endorsing almost exclusivelyRepublicansfor elective office, and sometimes refusing to interview or coverDemocraticcandidates.[citation needed]

Under Platinum Equity, the newspaper's editorial position "skewed closer to the middle" and showcased multiple viewpoints.[41]

Manchester and Lynch

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When Manchester and business partnerJohn Lynchtook ownership in 2011, Lynch stated onKPBSradio that he and Manchester "wanted to be cheerleaders for all that is good in San Diego".[42]Lynch expanded on this position in 2012, saying "We make no apologies. We are doing what a newspaper ought to do, which is to take positions. We are very consistent—pro-conservative, pro-business, pro-military—and we are trying to make a newspaper that gets people excited about this city and its future."[43]

This open promotion of certain viewpoints resulted in criticism from journalism professors and other newspaper editors, who worried that negative news about topics such as the military and business might not be covered.[44]Dean Nelson, director of the journalism program atPoint Loma Nazarene University,argued, "Now if you're saying we're going to be the cheerleaders of the military, why would you report on this guy that's taking bribes?... Where's the cheerleading there?" a reference to theUnion-Tribune'sPulitzer Prizewinning coverage of theDuke Cunninghambribery scandal.[45]ANew York Timeswriter added, "There is a growing worry that the falling value and failing business models of many American newspapers could lead to a situation where moneyed interests buy papers and use them to prosecute a political and commercial agenda. That future appears to have arrived in San Diego."[43]

Lynch said, "We totally respect the journalistic integrity of our paper and there is a clear line of demarcation between our editorials and our news. Our editor, Jeff Light, calls the shots." However, in November 2011 Lynch told the sports editor that the sports pages should advocate for a new football stadium; when a longtime sportswriter wrote skeptically about the idea, he was fired.[43]

Downtown redevelopment

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In January 2012, two months after Manchester bought theU-T,the newspaper featured a front-page proposal for downtown redevelopment, to include a downtown football stadium and an expansion of theSan Diego Convention Center.[46]Both properties are adjacent to hotels that Manchester owns.[47]

In September 2012,Investigative Newsourcereporter Brooke Williams obtained articles that claimed Lynch "threatened" Port CommissionerScott Peters,who was running for Congress, "with a newspaper campaign to dismantle the UnifiedPort of San Diego".In e-mails obtained by Williams, Lynch was quoted as indicating that if theDole Food Companyobtained a long-term contract, that the Port's independence governance would be questioned in editorial coverage. Williams said the effort showed "the extent to which the newspaper's new owners will go to push their vision for a football stadium on the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal",[48]

Endorsements and polling

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During the2012 mayoral electionthe owners of theU-Tdonated to Republican City Council MemberCarl DeMaio's campaign,[49]and the newspaper ran several prominent editorials favoring DeMaio. Those endorsements were wrapped around the front section of the newspaper on a separate page, "as though they were even more important" than the front page.[50]

In October 2012, a poll was taken by theU-Tasking respondents to choose between DeMaio and Democratic CongressmanBob Filnerin the mayoral election to be held in November. A rival news outlet noted that "Employees of a newspaper, television / radio station, marketing / public opinion research company or the city of San Diego—or who live with someone employed in one of those fields" were excluded from the poll results, which showed the Republican leading the Democrat, 46 percent to 36 percent. ReporterKelly Davisof SDCityBeat.com wrote: "Common sense dictates that those votes [by city employees or those living with them] would swing in Filner's favor due to DeMaio's long-running feud with city-employee unions." ButU-Tassignment editor Michael Smolens replied that "city employees were excluded to avoid political entanglements" in other parts of the ballot as well as in the mayor's race.[51][52]Despite the newspaper's efforts, DeMaio lost to Filner.

Lynch handed day-to-day operations to another executive in February 2014,[53]and editor Jeff Light became company president in January 2015.[54]In 2016, Light was named publisher.[55]

Publishers

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  • William Jeff Gatewood founded the newspaper, which first published October 10, 1868. He sold his interest to Charles P. Taggart in May 1869.[56]
  • Edward "Ned" Wilkerson Bushyhead,1868–1873 established the paper with Gatewood, after they moved their newspaper publishing partnership fromSan Andreasto San Diego.[11]: 296 Bushyhead (1832–1907) was a miner, publisher and lawman who was born inTennessee.[11]: 295–299 PartCherokee,he was the son of aJesse Bushyhead,a Baptist preacher, whom he accompanied from Georgia to Indian Territory on theTrail of Tearsat the age of seven.[11]: 295 Having moved to San Diego, he became the "silent" publisher of theSan Diego Union.[11]: 296 In 1873, he sold the newspaper.[11]: 297 In 1875, he was elected sheriff ofSan Diego Countyand re-elected for a second term in 1884.[11]: 298 
  • Douglas Gunn,1871–1886. Gunn (August 31, 1841 – November 26, 1891) was a scholar, publisher, pioneer and Republican politician from California.
  • John D. Spreckels,1890–1926. The son of German-American industrialist Claus Spreckels, he founded a transportation and real estate empire in San Diego.
  • Col. Ira C. Copley, 1928–1947
  • James S. Copley,1947–1973. He was a journalist and newspaper publisher. He published theSan Diego Union,San Diego Union-TribuneandSan Diego Evening Tribunefrom 1947 until his death in 1973.
  • Helen K. Copley, 1973–2001
  • David C. Copley,2001–2009
  • Edward R. Moss, May 2009 – December 2011[57]
  • Doug F. "Papa Doug" Manchester, 2011–2015[58][59]
  • Austin Beutner, May–September 2015
  • Timothy E. Ryan, September 2015-March 2016[60]
  • Jeff Light, March 2016-July 2023
  • Ron Hasse, July 2023-

Notable people

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See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^City News Service(July 21, 2023)."San Diego Union-Tribune editor announces he is leaving newspaper".KPBS.RetrievedJuly 10,2024.
  2. ^MediaNews Group(August 4, 2023)."Lora Cicalo named senior editor of The San Diego Union-Tribune, Katie Musolf tapped to head advertising revenue division".LinkedIn.RetrievedJuly 10,2024.
  3. ^"U-T print circulation continues downward spiral".San Diego Reader.RetrievedNovember 29,2018.
  4. ^abBeutner, Austin (March 15, 2015)."LA Times, Union-Tribune Combine Forces".The San Diego Union-Tribune.
  5. ^"Billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong reaches deal to buy L.A. Times, San Diego Union-Tribune".Los Angeles Times.February 7, 2018.RetrievedFebruary 7,2018.
  6. ^ab"tronc, Inc. Announces Closing of the Los Angeles Times and The San Diego Union-Tribune Sale"(Press release). Chicago:Tronc.June 18, 2018.RetrievedJune 18,2018.
  7. ^abWeisberg, Lori (July 10, 2023)."The San Diego Union-Tribune sold to Alden Global Capital".The San Diego Union Tribune.RetrievedJuly 11,2023.
  8. ^Engstrand, Iris (2005).San Diego: California's Cornerstone.Sunbelt Publications.pp. 80–81.ISBN978-0-932653-72-7.
  9. ^"Guide to the San Diego Union-Tribune Photograph Collection".Online Archive of California.
  10. ^"San Diego 120 Top Influential Pioneers".The Daily Transcript.RetrievedAugust 3,2014.
  11. ^abcdefgForeman, Carolyn Thomas (Autumn 1936)."Edward W. Bushyhead and John Rollin Ridge: Cherokee Editors in California"(PDF).The Chronicles of Oklahoma.14(3). Oklahoma City, Oklahoma:Oklahoma Historical Society:295–311.ISSN0009-6024.Archived(PDF)from the original on July 27, 2024.RetrievedAugust 1,2024.
  12. ^"Part Five: Chapter III: Later Journalism and Literature".San Diego History Center.
  13. ^"The Copley Legacy".The San Diego Union-Tribune.May 5, 2009.
  14. ^Kupper, Thomas (March 18, 2009)."Union-Tribune Sold to Platinum Equity".The San Diego Union-Tribune.
  15. ^Apple, Charles (August 17, 2010)."San Diego Union-Tribune Launches Redesign".Apple.copydesk.org.RetrievedOctober 31,2010.
  16. ^Vore, Adrian (May 26, 2015)."What's in a Nameplate? A Lot, Actually".The San Diego Union-Tribune.RetrievedMay 27,2015.
  17. ^"San Diego Union-TribuneSold to Hotelier for More Than $100 Million ".The New York Times.November 17, 2011.
  18. ^"Manchester Grand Resorts".Manchester Financial Group.RetrievedDecember 16,2013.
  19. ^"To Our Readers".UTSanDiego.com.January 3, 2012.
  20. ^Walters, Dan (January 3, 2012)."San Diego Union-Tribune Becomes 'U-T San Diego'".The Sacramento Bee.
  21. ^Romenesko, Jim(January 3, 2012)."San Diego Union-TribuneBecomesU-T San Diego".JimRomanesko.com.
  22. ^"U-T San Diegoto BuyNorth County Times,Californian ".North County Times.September 11, 2012. Archived fromthe originalon September 13, 2012.
  23. ^"U-TCombines withNorth County Times".KNSD-TV.
  24. ^Groves, Alex."Does end of Times leave news void?".North Coast Current.RetrievedJuly 12,2024.
  25. ^Horn, Jonathan (November 1, 2013)."U-T Buys 8 Local Community Newspapers".U-T San Diego.
  26. ^"U-T launches Encinitas weekly newspaper".San Diego Union-Tribune.June 20, 2014.RetrievedOctober 9,2021.
  27. ^Malone, Michael (February 20, 2014)."U-T TV Goes Dark".Broadcasting & Cable.RetrievedFebruary 20,2014.
  28. ^"$85M Deal to CombineU-T,LA Times".U-T San Diego.May 7, 2015.RetrievedMay 8,2015.
  29. ^"L.A. Times Parent to Buy San Diego Paper, Expanding Reach in Southern California".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedMay 8,2015.
  30. ^Pfeifer, Stuart (May 27, 2015)."San Diego Union-Tribune Lays Off 178, Mostly in Printing, Delivery".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedMay 27,2015.
  31. ^"Union Tribune Acquires Pacific San Diego Magazine".RetrievedJune 23,2018.
  32. ^Parente, Michele (June 16, 2015)."End of an era: U-T presses cease".sandiegouniontribune.com.RetrievedJanuary 12,2017.
  33. ^Wilkens, John (February 11, 2018)."New U-T, Times owner joins ranks of billionaire buyers".San Diego Union-Tribune.RetrievedApril 22,2018.
  34. ^Schultz, Ray (December 28, 2023)."'San Diego Union Tribune' Closes Spanish-Language Weekly ".MediaPost.RetrievedDecember 29,2023.
  35. ^The San Diego Union-Tribune(June 13, 2024)."Welcome to the new sandiegouniontribune.com: What's changed, FAQs and more".The San Diego Union-Tribune.RetrievedJuly 16,2024.
  36. ^Showley, Roger (May 16, 2016)."U-T: Back downtown".The San Diego Union-Tribune.San Diego, CA.RetrievedJune 4,2016.
  37. ^"1979 Winners".The Pulitzer Prizes.RetrievedJanuary 14,2014.
  38. ^"1987 Winners and Finalists".The Pulitzer Prizes.RetrievedJanuary 14,2014.
  39. ^McDonald, Jeff (April 18, 2006)."U-T, Copley News Win Pulitzer Prize".The San Diego Union-Tribune.
  40. ^"George Polk Awards for Journalism press release".Long Island University. Archived fromthe originalon March 4, 2016.RetrievedNovember 15,2006.
  41. ^Raftery, Miriam (November 20, 2011)."Media Watchdog: Union Tribune Sale Raises Media Ethics Concerns".East County Magazine.RetrievedJune 9,2013.
  42. ^Sharma, Anita (November 17, 2011)."Developer Doug Manchester Buys Union-Tribune".KPBS-FM.
  43. ^abcCarr, David (June 10, 2012)."Newspaper as Business Pulpit".The New York Times.RetrievedJune 8,2013.
  44. ^Anderson, Erik; Burke, Megan; Cavanaugh, Maureen; Pico, Peggy (September 11, 2012)."It's Official:U-T San DiegoIs BuyingNorth County Times".KPBS-TV.City News Service.
  45. ^Davis, Rob (September 11, 2012)."Manchester Consolidates Power with Second Newspaper Buy".Voice of San Diego.
  46. ^"Think Big: New Vision Needed for Downtown Waterfront".San Diego Union-Tribune(Editorial). January 22, 2012.RetrievedJune 9,2013.
  47. ^"Papa Doug Manchester".dougmanchester.com.RetrievedJune 9,2013.
  48. ^"Port Commissioner: 'The UT Is Coming After Us,'".Investigative Newsource.September 27, 2012.
  49. ^Lewis, Scott (October 22, 2012)."The Head-Spinning Polls in the Mayor's Race".Voice of San Diego.
  50. ^Lewis, Scott (September 11, 2012)."The Two Faces of Papa Doug".Voice of San Diego.RetrievedOctober 13,2013.
  51. ^Davis, Kelly (October 25, 2012)."Why Were City Employees Excluded from the U-T Mayoral Poll?".San Diego CityBeat.
  52. ^[1]Poll results
  53. ^Lewis, Scott (February 7, 2014)."U-T San Diego CEO John Lynch Hands Reins to President Mike Hodges".Voice of San Diego.
  54. ^Horn, Jonathan (January 12, 2015)."Light Named U-T President & COO".U-T San Diego.
  55. ^Vore, Adrian (March 19, 2016)."U-T's news and business chief".sandiegouniontribune.com.RetrievedJanuary 12,2017.
  56. ^Black, Samuel T. (1913).San Diego and Imperial Counties California: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement.S.J. Clarke Publishing Co.p. 201.RetrievedSeptember 8,2015.
  57. ^Davis, Rob (October 30, 2009)."Doing More With Moss".Voice of San Diego.RetrievedNovember 8,2009.
  58. ^"Union-Tribune Returns to Local Hands".The San Diego Union-Tribune.December 6, 2011.RetrievedJanuary 5,2012.
  59. ^"San Diego Developer Purchases City's Newspaper".Bloomberg Businessweek.Associated Press.December 6, 2011. Archived fromthe originalon August 14, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 5,2012.
  60. ^Goffard, Christopher;Pfeifer, Stuart (September 9, 2015)."Publisher Austin Beutner Is Fired After a Yearlong Drive to Reshape The Times".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedJanuary 22,2016.
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