Chicago Sun-Times
The modern Chicago Sun-Times emerged from a 1948 merger of two distinct papers: the Marshall Field III owned Chicago Sun and the Chicago Daily Times. The Chicago Sun had launched on the 4th of December 1941, while the Chicago Daily Times ran from 1929 until that same year. This union created a daily newspaper that claimed to be the oldest continuously published daily in the city based on the 1844 founding of the Chicago Daily Journal. That earlier paper was also the first to publish the false rumor about Catherine O'Leary's cow causing the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The merged entity inherited assets from the Journal, which had provided temporary shelter to the Chicago Tribune after its own building burned down. Field Enterprises controlled the new publication, acquiring the afternoon Chicago Daily News in 1959 and launching WFLD television in 1966. When the Daily News ceased operations in 1978, many of its staff members moved to the Sun-Times, including Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Mike Royko. During this era, the paper maintained a populist, progressive character leaning Democratic but independent of the city's political establishment.
Journalists at the Sun-Times have won eight Pulitzer Prizes, with most awards arriving during the 1970s. Roger Ebert became the first film critic to receive the prize in 1975 for his work as the paper's film critic starting in 1967. He held that position until his death in April 2013. Tom Fitzpatrick won General Reporting in 1970, while Jack Dykinga took Feature Photography in 1971. Ron Powers received Criticism in 1973, followed by Art Petacque and Hugh Hough for General Reporting in 1974. John H. White won Feature Photography in 1982, and Jack Higgins earned Editorial Cartooning in 1989. The most recent award went to Frank Main, Mark Konkol, and John J. Kim for Local Reporting in 2011. Bill Mauldin, who made the Sun-Times his home base from 1962 to 1991, was a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist known for his World War II exploits. One of his most renowned illustrations depicted a mourning statue of Abraham Lincoln after the November 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy.
Field Enterprises co-owners Marshall Field V and Ted Field sold the paper to Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation in 1984. This transaction marked an abrupt shift in style, mirroring the New York Post with sensational front pages and a political stance moving markedly to the right. Roger Ebert later reflected on this incident with disdain, stating in his blog that he disliked the changes. Murdoch sold the paper again in 1986 for $145 million in cash through a leveraged buyout to an investor group led by publisher Robert E. Page and Adler & Shaykin. Mike Royko defected to the rival Chicago Tribune following the Murdoch purchase. In February 1987, the popular syndicated advice column Ask Ann Landers left the Sun-Times after 31 years to jump to the rival Chicago Tribune. The move sparked a nationwide hunt for a new advice columnist, resulting in the hiring of Jeffrey Zaslow and Diane Crowley. By August 1988, managing partner Leonard P. Shaykin had developed a conflict with Page, leading to Page's resignation as publisher and president. In December 1986, the Sun-Times acquired Star Publications, a chain of 12 south and southwest suburban papers published twice weekly.
Among the most prominent members of the newspaper's staff was cartoonist Jacob Burck, hired by the Chicago Times in 1938. He won a Pulitzer Prize in 1941 and continued drawing nearly 10,000 cartoons over a 44-year career. The advice column Ask Ann Landers debuted in 1943 under pseudonym Ruth Crowley until 1955. Eppie Lederer, sister of Dear Abby columnist Abigail van Buren, assumed the role thereafter. Irv Kupcinet wrote "Kup's Column" from 1943 until his death in 2003 at age 91. Jack Olsen joined as editor-in-chief in 1954 before moving on to Time and Sports Illustrated magazines. Jerome Holtzman became a member of the sports department after being a copy boy for the Daily News in the 1940s. He and Edgar Munzel both ended up honored by the Baseball Hall of Fame. Roger Ebert became a staff writer in 1966 and named film critic one year later. In October 2003, Kupcinet began including his longtime assistant Stella Foster as coauthor of his column. After Kupcinet died, Foster kept the column running with her sole byline until retiring in 2012.
On the 31st of March 2009, the newspaper filed for bankruptcy protection following years of financial struggles. The Sun-Times unions agreed to concessions paving the way for Jim Tyree to buy the newspaper and its 50 suburban newspapers for $25 million. Of that purchase price, $5 million was cash while $20 million helped pay off past debts. In July 2011, the paper announced it would close its printing plant on Ashland Avenue, eliminating 400 printing jobs. This move saved an estimated $10 million annually and outsourced printing to the rival Chicago Tribune. James C. Tyree, chairman of the Sun-Times Media group, died under sudden circumstances in March 2011. The company laid off six editorial reporters and writers in March 2011 alone. By May 2013, the publication's photography department was dissolved as part of a restructuring involving freelance photographers. Four photographers were reinstated as multimedia journalists in March 2014: Rich Chapman, Brian Jackson, Al Podgorski, and Michael Schmidt. In June 2011, the paper fired longtime TV critic Paige Wiser after she admitted fabricating portions of a review.
On the 30th of January 2022, the Sun-Times became not-for-profit when formally merged into Chicago Public Media. A nonbinding agreement for the deal had been announced in September 2021, with board approval signaling on the 18th of January 2022. The final arrangement was backed with $61 million from several philanthropic organizations. Jennifer Kho was appointed executive editor in June 2022, replacing interim editor Steve Warmbir. In October 2022, the Sun-Times dropped its digital paywall and subscription model in favor of a voluntary membership-based model encouraging donations from readers and sponsors. Headquarters are now located at the Chicago Navy Pier where WBEZ serves as lessee of space housing both radio and newspaper functions. In March 2025, 35 employees including 23 journalists took voluntary buyouts, representing a loss of 20% of total staff at Chicago Public Media. That same month, the paper announced it would no longer publish editorials. The Sunday the 18th of May 2025 edition gained attention online for an AI-generated Summer Reading list containing nonexistent books and made-up quotes written by Marco Buscaglia.
Up Next
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When did the Chicago Sun-Times merge to form its modern version?
The modern Chicago Sun-Times emerged from a 1948 merger of two distinct papers: the Marshall Field III owned Chicago Sun and the Chicago Daily Times. The Chicago Sun had launched on the 4th of December 1941, while the Chicago Daily Times ran from 1929 until that same year.
Who won the first Pulitzer Prize for film criticism at the Chicago Sun-Times?
Roger Ebert became the first film critic to receive the prize in 1975 for his work as the paper's film critic starting in 1967. He held that position until his death in April 2013.
What happened to the Chicago Sun-Times when Rupert Murdoch bought it in 1984?
Field Enterprises co-owners Marshall Field V and Ted Field sold the paper to Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation in 1984. This transaction marked an abrupt shift in style, mirroring the New York Post with sensational front pages and a political stance moving markedly to the right.
Why did the Chicago Sun-Times file for bankruptcy protection in 2009?
On the 31st of March 2009, the newspaper filed for bankruptcy protection following years of financial struggles. The Sun-Times unions agreed to concessions paving the way for Jim Tyree to buy the newspaper and its 50 suburban newspapers for $25 million.
When did the Chicago Sun-Times become a not-for-profit organization?
On the 30th of January 2022, the Sun-Times became not-for-profit when formally merged into Chicago Public Media. A nonbinding agreement for the deal had been announced in September 2021, with board approval signaling on the 18th of January 2022.