Tribune shakes up newsroom roster

Tribune Tower

The Chicago Tribune unveiled a massive reorganization of its newsroom Thursday, including an extensive overhaul of its editorial masthead.

Confirming plans first reported here March 5, the moves followed the elimination last month of at least a dozen reporting and editing positions at the newspaper. More layoffs are expected as the Tribune prepares to relocate from its historic headquarters at Tribune Tower to smaller space at Prudential Plaza.

“This process has fostered hundreds of productive conversations about our future,” publisher and editor-in-chief Bruce Dold told employees. “We understand it has also led to feelings of uncertainty.

“We are and will continue to be the most accomplished and impactful news organization in Chicago. We are and will continue to be a mission-driven and audience-driven news organization. We will shape the future of the Chicago Tribune together,” he wrote in a lengthy memo to staff.

Mark Jacob

Two key editors leaving the Tribune, Dold announced, are Mark Jacob, associate managing editor for metro, and ‎Robin Daughtridge, associate managing editor for photography.

“Friends, I’ve decided to leave the Chicago Tribune after 18+ years, the last 3 as metro editor,” Jacob tweeted. “I’m proud that we exposed public corruption and racial inequities. We also made people smile, cry and think. And care. That’s part of the journalist’s job: to make people care.

“My time in the news business has convinced me that owners and managers of media companies must embrace a mission of journalism as public service, invest in their people and show bravery and independence. Our democracy depends on it,” Jacob added.

Robin Daughtridge

Jacob joined the Tribune in 1999 from the Sun-Times, where he was Sunday editor. Daughtridge joined the Tribune in 1995 from the Sun-Times, where she was director of photography.

Their departures followed the resignation last week of Cristi Kempf, who had just been promoted from associate managing editor for editing and presentation to executive director of the new Design and Production Studio for parent company tronc.

Christine Taylor, vice president of digital publishing for the tronc-owned Hartford Courant, is joining the Tribune as managing editor, audience. Peter Kendall, who has been managing editor since 2015, will continue as managing editor, content.

Here is the text of Dold’s announcement to staff:

We have several important steps to announce in the reorganization of the Chicago Tribune newsroom and the re-examination of how we bring our essential journalism to our readers.  
 
The compensation review has been completed and staffers are being notified about compensation increases. These changes are effective April 1 and will show up in paychecks on April 13.
 
Many of you have had conversations with managers in the last week to confirm new and ongoing roles in the newsroom. Those conversations will continue next week. We greatly appreciate the ideas you’ve presented throughout this process. Thanks, too, for your patience.
 
We’re ready to move ahead.
 
Chrissy Taylor has been working into her new role as managing editor, audience, as she prepares to move from Hartford to Chicago. She has been talking with staff members about her vision for an Audience Engagement Studio that changes the way we relate and respond to our readers. The studio will drive our digital innovation, with responsibility to increase collaboration across the newsroom. We have structured the studio into three teams: Visuals, Interactive News Design and Audience Engagement/Homepage. Bruce, Peter and Chrissy will hold a series of conversations over the next several weeks to discuss in greater detail how the content teams will work with the studio to drive digital growth.
 
We have some leadership changes to share with you.
 
First, two dear colleagues, Mark Jacob and Robin Daughtridge, have decided to leave the Tribune.
 
No editors have worked harder or accomplished more every day – or earned more friends and admirers – than Mark and Robin have.
 
Mark is widely admired for his leadership, his warmth, his knowledge of Chicago history, and his incisive editing and writing. His future includes writing books.
 
Robin has guided the best photo department in the country, recognized with the highest honors in the business.  She has been a friend and mentor to many people here. She plans to move to Santa Fe.
 
We will miss them both, professionally and personally, as they move on in the coming weeks.
 
We have trusted leaders ready to step up.
 
Phil Jurik will lead the new Local/Breaking department at the Tribune. Before taking over the suburban publications, Phil spent years running a large part of the Metro operation as a deputy. He has earned a reputation as a steady and sure editor, a dazzling wordsmith and a colleague who can be counted on to hold the highest standards of integrity. Phil has the endorsement of two people essential to the local news report – Angela Rozas O’Toole and Tracy Van Moorlehem, who will continue as deputies. Angela and Tracy’s leadership has been indispensable to Metro’s success and they will help to shape the future of that department and the newsroom.
 
Todd Panagopoulos will be promoted to director of content, visuals. Todd is a forward-thinking advocate for visual journalism and knows what it will take to build an even greater following for this work. People believe in Todd because he has always delivered. He is eager to work with Chrissy to develop the next phase for this remarkably talented and dedicated department.
 
Amy Carr will lead the Life and Culture group as director of content, reporting to Peter. She will also take on a growing role in the newsroom, working closely with Chrissy and others to bring our journalism to the community in new ways. The Life and Culture group will take on social issues at a breaking news pace, be an authoritative voice and consumer guide to dining and arts & entertainment, and help us navigate the culture of our city.
 
Rochell Sleets will be promoted to deputy editor overseeing the Living group, reporting to Amy. Rochell is a creative and energetic leader who will help shape the vision for our coverage of social issues and news and trends concerning the way people live their lives.
 
Cara DiPasquale joins this team, bringing her sharp and creative focus as an editor and manager.
 
Scott Powers will continue to be a vital part of the leadership team as deputy editor overseeing the entertainment group.
 
Jonathon Berlin will lead our team focused on digital design and data visualization as the director of content, interactive news design. This team, in addition to creating engaging interactive elements and compelling digital designs, will work closely with the home page team on the Arc rollout.
 
Lisa Donovan and Liam Ford will lead a new Quick Response Team, which will pursue with vigor the emerging story or stories of the day. The Quick Response Team will primarily focus on non-crime topics.
 
Dan Haar and Matt O’Connor will lead a team that covers criminal justice around the clock with breaking-news speed, with a focus on public safety issues that have a profound impact on our quality of life. This desk will continue to report on the reform of the Chicago Police Department, an area in which this newsroom has been a leader.
 
Our watchdog team will expand as the Public Interest Investigations group under George Papajohn and Kaarin Tisue. Eric Krol, a talented editor and wordsmith who has grown adept at running investigative stories, will join this team.
 
Mary Ellen Podmolik will lead the City at Work group, taking on expanded responsibilities, including a group reporting on the physical transformation of our city.
 
Sports has been one of our most creative, driven and reader-focused departments under Joe Knowles and deputies Amanda Kaschube and Tim Bannon. They will continue to lead sports, with an emphasis on how we can develop more tools, such as podcasts, to deliver our authority and expertise.
 
Andrea Hanis will take on the new position of marketplace editor, reporting to Chrissy. The marketplace editor will guide enhanced efforts to find new content, audience, and revenue opportunities that support our work, including partnerships with not-for-profit organizations. Other newsroom leaders will continue to be involved in these efforts. Andrea will continue to oversee RedEye and BlueSky Innovation.
 
Finally, we’re announcing three promotions that will be key to our future.
 
Elvia Malagon and Alyssa Cherney, who joined us in 2016 as reporting residents, have been hired as reporters.
 
Raquel Zaldivar, a resident who quickly established herself as an excellent video editor, has been hired as a visual journalist.
 
We will share more as our new newsroom continues to take shape.
 
This process has fostered hundreds of productive conversations about our future. We understand it has also led to feelings of uncertainty.
 
We are and will continue to be the most accomplished and impactful news organization in Chicago. We are and will continue to be a mission-driven and audience-driven news organization. We will shape the future of the Chicago Tribune together.