Trib Goes Tabloid on Weekdays

The Chicago Tribune is changing its street-sale format from broadsheet to tabloid beginning next week, the newspaper reports. The move, which will affect weekday retail editions but not subscription copies, puts the paper in direct competition with its rival, the Chicago Sun-Times, which has long published in the format. The Tribune’s editorial content will be the same in both editions.

“Many news consumers have asked for a more convenient version of the paper,” an exec said. “Companies succeed when they leverage strong brands and respond to customer feedback.” The Sun-Times appreciated the switch. “The quote ‘Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery’ came to mind,” a spokeswoman said. “Sure, size matters,” she continued, “but so is what you do with it.” (More Chicago Tribune stories.)