Tribune makes a Splash on Sunday

Splash (May 1, 2016)

Splash (May 1, 2016)

Readers of the Chicago Tribune got their first glimpse of Splash over the weekend. At least subscribers who live in certain neighborhoods did.

Sunday marked the first edition of Splash since the glossy lifestyle, celebrity and fashion magazine was acquired last month by Tribune Publishing from Wrapports, parent company of the Sun-Times. It had been a Sunday insert in the Sun-Times since its inception in 2012.

Bruce Dold, publisher and editor-in-chief of the Tribune, declined to comment on his paper’s circulation plans for Splash.

It’s not clear which parts of the city and suburbs have been designated to receive the magazine with the Sunday Tribune. Surprisingly, the latest edition of Splash was not included in papers delivered on the North Shore, which is considered one of the publication’s prime targets. Instead it’s being delivered there by 22nd Century Media, under a content and distribution partnership with Splash that’s about to end.

Starting with the upcoming issue, dated May 22, Splash will be inserted in Sunday Tribunes on the North Shore, according to Susanna Homan, editor and publisher of Chicago magazine and Splash.

Themed to Mother’s Day, the current edition features a cover story on Kristin Cavallari, mother of three and wife of Bears quarterback Jay Cutler; a piece on Susan Carlson, the reporter and weekend news anchor at NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5, who recently adopted a daughter from India; and parenting advice from “five Chicago moms we love.”

Although now published by Chicago Tribune Media Group (along with Chicago magazine), Splash hasn’t severed ties completely with the Sun-Times. At least for now, the publication’s website still directs readers to its old home at splash.suntimes.com.

“We’re still providing platform services until they move onto whatever new platform they'll be on,” a Sun-Times spokesman said.

Splash was a pet project of Michael Ferro, who recruited Homan to launch the magazine soon after the investment group he headed bought the Sun-Times. When Ferro left to become chairman of Tribune Publishing, he wasted no time bringing Splash over.