Tribune Co. Announces Steep Circ Declines In Los Angeles and Chicago on Day After News of Fuller's Retirement

By: Jennifer Saba The Tribune Co. announced this morning that circulation at its two largest papers, the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune, experienced steep declines.

During a conference call to investors, Jack Fuller, president of Tribune's publishing division, who announced his retirement late yesterday, said that at the Times, daily circulation for the six-month period ending September 2004 stood at 902,164 and that Sunday circ was 1,292,274, or roughly "a range of" 6% drop.

The Tribune reported daily circulation of 591,504 and a Sunday circ of 963,926, or a 2.5% and 4% decline, respectively. Also noted: The Audit Bureau of Circulations completed its annual audit of the Tribune and reported no adjustments.

Fuller said that most of the declines occurred in single copy and home delivery.

Last night, it was announced that Fuller will retire and leave the board of directors at the end of the year. Chicago Tribune Publisher Scott C. Smith was named to succeed Fuller.

Replacing Smith as publisher of the Tribune is Tribune Publishing Senior Vice President David Hiller. The Smith and Hiller appointments will take effect Monday.

In an interview with the Tribune, Fuller, 58, said circulation scandals at the company's Newsday and Hoy properties in New York were not related to his decision to step down.

"I have for quite a few years wanted to retire early and make my second job my first job," said Fuller, who has written several books while at Tribune. "The question was when was the right time to do this."

Fuller said he feels that the company "has gotten its arms around" the Newsday circulation issues and that it was time to leave. "If you saw me right now, you'd see me smiling," he said. "I really love writing and missed it enormously."

In a letter to employees late Wednesday, Dennis FitzSimons, chairman, chief executive, and president of Tribune Co., said that Fuller "has always been a strong voice for our commitment to journalistic excellence. Jack's own extraordinary journalism career gave him a unique rapport with our newspaper staffs, and his guidance benefited Tribune's publishing operations in many ways."

He added: "While Jack will be missed, I'm confident that Scott is well prepared to lead our growing publishing group."

Smith, 54, has been a Tribune executive for 25 years. He has served as president, publisher, and CEO of the Chicago Tribune since 1997. Prior to that, he spent four years as president and publisher of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale.