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'Chicago Sun-Times' Looks to Redefine Itself as 'Liberal, Working-Class' Paper (Mark Steyn gone)
Editor & Publisher ^ | 7/10/07 | Mark Fitzgerald

Posted on 07/10/2007 6:34:15 PM PDT by LdSentinal

CHICAGO The Chicago Sun-Times is turning left.

The tabloid that shifted toward political conservatism under the brief ownership of Rupert Murdoch more than two decades ago now says that it is "rethinking our stance on several issues, including the most pressing issue facing Americans today: Bush's war in Iraq."

Under marching orders from Publisher John Cruickshank and Editor in Chief Michael Cooke, new Editorial Page Editor Cheryl L. Reed introduced a new Commentary section Tuesday with a promise to turn the tabloid back into the liberal-leaning paper it was for decades before the Reagan administration.

"We are returning to our liberal, working-class roots, a position that pits us squarely opposite the Chicago Tribune -- that Republican, George Bush-touting paper over on moneyed Michigan Avenue," Reed wrote. "We're rethinking our stance on several issues, including the most pressing issue facing Americans today: Bush's war in Iraq."

Reed, who did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment about the change, is the paper's former book editor who was asked by Cruickshank and Cooke to, she wrote, "conceive an editorial and opinion section that looked like the future."

Her instructions: "'Don't be conservative,' Cruickshank urged me. 'We don't want you to hold back.'"

Reed said the Sun-Times will be adding seats to the editorial board "so that board members -- the paper's brain trust -- reflect the ethnic and social diversity of our city."

Eventually, she added, the paper will list the board members -- and disclose who wrote what editorial. "That way you'll know who the characters are behind the curtain," she explained. "No Wizards of Oz here."

Without being specific, Reed said the paper would be changing its mix of columnists. In recent years, the regular non-staff columnists on the opinion pages have included the conservatives George Will and Mark Steyn, who is an outspoken fan of Conrad Black, the former Hollinger International Chairman many at the paper blame for the Sun-Times' perilous financial state. It also regularly runs liberal commentators, including the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Father Andrew Greeley.

One new columnist introduced Tuesday was the paper's previous editorial page editor, Stephen Huntley. Huntley identified himself as a conservative, though with "a more liberal or libertarian stance" on social issues such as abortion, gay rights, and embryonic stem cell research. His column will appear three times a week.

The Sun-Times was a liberal paper through the 1960s and 1970s, and turned right when it was bought by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. in 1984. "You may wake up one day, and the Chicago Tribune will be the liberal paper in town," then-Publisher Robert E. Page told a news conference around that time. Though Murdoch soon sold the tabloid to an investment group fronted by Page, the conservative bent remained in the editorial pages.

The editorial-page swing coincides with a new branding strategy that includes the slogan "Let's get into it." The editorial page, and the paper's Web site, is opening up more space for reader contributions, Reed said.

"We'll be sticking our necks out on issues," she wrote. "You won't be scratching your heads trying to figure out where we stand."


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: chicagosuntimes; diversity; dnctalkingpoints; enemedia; liberal; liberalrag; media; msmdeathwatch; newspaper; pravdausa; radicalleft; read11; socialistworker; tolerantleft
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To: LdSentinal

When money talks, liberal journos walk....


21 posted on 07/10/2007 7:00:18 PM PDT by Clioman
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To: LdSentinal

I live in Chicago... it’s news to me that the Trib is conservative.

Christ if the socialists at the Sun Times think the Trib is some right wing paper I can only dread what they plan on doing to the Sun Times.

I dont get the SunTimes but my parents do and i’ll try to get them to cancel.


22 posted on 07/10/2007 7:01:32 PM PDT by pacelvi
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To: LdSentinal

Neither the Chicago Fibune nor the Slum-Times are worth the paper they are printed on.

That the Slum-Times is engaging in a class-envy type of desperate hope for a circulation boost is no surprise whatsoever.


23 posted on 07/10/2007 7:01:47 PM PDT by prairiebreeze (PUT AMERICA AHEAD --- VOTE FOR FRED!!.)
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To: LdSentinal
Liberal, Working-Class

Oxymoron.

24 posted on 07/10/2007 7:03:15 PM PDT by Alouette (Vicious Babushka)
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To: Lazamataz

My city (Houston) has a one paper town. Where is the “fairness doctrine” for daily papers? The Clinton Administration cleared the merger/buyout of the Houston Post by the Comical ending competition in print journalism in Houston. $40million+ in startup costs rule out any competition these days.


25 posted on 07/10/2007 7:06:38 PM PDT by weegee (If the Fairness Doctrine is imposed on USA who will CNN news get to read the conservative rebuttal)
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To: clintonh8r
It so easy to be a liberal. You don’t have to think. You just act aloof and criticize an authority figure you make into a boogie man. You can also make-up phony threats and causes you can exploit to make yourself look important and caring.

But, don't criticize the real bad guys, you may have to really demonstrate courage and put yourself at real risk.

26 posted on 07/10/2007 7:07:04 PM PDT by TruthFactor (The Death of Nations... pornography, homosexuality, abortion)
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To: popdonnelly

Most liberals do not read, nor listen to talk shows - they know already.


27 posted on 07/10/2007 7:10:39 PM PDT by GregoryFul (how'd that get there?)
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To: LdSentinal
It'll lose readership. Just a Midwest version of the New York Los Angeles Times -Washington Post. The Chicago Sun Times will now peddle the same liberal garbage as the rest of the MSM.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

28 posted on 07/10/2007 7:11:40 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: randita
It’s laughable that the Sun-Times considers itself conservative.

It's laughable that the Sun-Times considers the Chicago Tribune conservative.

29 posted on 07/10/2007 7:14:56 PM PDT by BlessedBeGod
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To: BlessedBeGod
Its laughable the MSM considers itself "fair and balanced."

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

30 posted on 07/10/2007 7:16:27 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: LdSentinal

Good move. Its worked so well for the New York Times and Boston Globe and Washington Post. Its amazing.. they think the problem is that they are too far to the right.


31 posted on 07/10/2007 7:16:58 PM PDT by dalight
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To: LdSentinal
The Sun-Times was a liberal paper through the 1960s and 1970s, and turned right when it was bought by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. in 1984. "You may wake up one day, and the Chicago Tribune will be the liberal paper in town," then-Publisher Robert E. Page told a news conference around that time. Though Murdoch soon sold the tabloid to an investment group fronted by Page, the conservative bent remained in the editorial pages.

So someone explain to me: here they openly admit a pronounced liberal bias before Murdoch was in the picture. But isn't this entire campaign the Left has against Murdoch propogated on the idea that his sin is in taking news organs that are ostensibly currently "objective" and non-ideological and giving them a political bias?

So you were liberal before, Murdoch overtly turned you conservative, now you're very proudly changing course back the other way. What's the damn difference, lady?

'Cuz speaking for the "liberal and working class," or for "ethnic and social diversity" ain't being "objective."

32 posted on 07/10/2007 7:23:43 PM PDT by Western Civ 4ever
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To: Alouette
"Liberal, Working-Class"

Oxymoron.

This is what Ayn Rand referred to as a "package deal" -- an attempt to soften the impact of "liberal" by attaching "working-class." I'm sure Mark Steyn is crestfallen.

33 posted on 07/10/2007 7:26:25 PM PDT by Misterioso
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To: LdSentinal

I expect that the first editorial under the new regime will be to endorse bringing back the “Fairness Doctrine”


34 posted on 07/10/2007 7:28:46 PM PDT by ken5050
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To: kingu

Post of The Day


35 posted on 07/10/2007 7:29:50 PM PDT by two23
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To: LdSentinal

Can you imagine the cries if a big daily declared that it was going to be a “conservative, free market, America-first” newspaper?


36 posted on 07/10/2007 7:30:27 PM PDT by Stand W (Fetchez La Vache!)
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To: LdSentinal

>>>>We are returning to our liberal, working-class roots, a position that pits us squarely opposite the Chicago Tribune — that Republican, George Bush-touting paper over on moneyed Michigan Avenue,.. .<<<<

that’s b.s.

1. there is no longer a “liberal, working-class”.

2. the chicago tribune is NOT republican, as its daily screed shows.


37 posted on 07/10/2007 7:31:07 PM PDT by ken21 (fred.)
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To: LdSentinal

So the Sun Times will be history within 3 years....


38 posted on 07/10/2007 7:32:47 PM PDT by Kozak
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To: LdSentinal

Yet another voice acknowledging their participation in the treason chorus.


39 posted on 07/10/2007 7:33:14 PM PDT by Phsstpok (Often wrong, but never in doubt)
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To: LdSentinal

The Sun Times always has been and always will be liberal.

It’s typical liberals thinking a paper has gone conservative because of about 20 columnists they have 2 conservatives.


40 posted on 07/10/2007 7:33:25 PM PDT by cubswinby100
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