The deal is highly representative of newspapers’ current – and commonly shared – imperatives: cut maximum costs while aiming to maintain editorial quality.

“Reporters, editors, marketers and ad staff from the two dailies continue to battle one another for scoops and sales, but the real fight for papers now is with the bottom line,” reports the Tribune.

“This time it's an industrywide fight for survival, and almost any ally is welcome.”

The Sun-Times Media Group revealed a second quarter operating loss of $80.6 million (compared to $13.7 million last year) and a 12% decline in revenue, to $94.3 million.

Tribune Co. suffered a 7% decline in revenue, to $1.31 billion, and a 36% fall in operating profit, to $195.8 million.

According to the Tribune, this partnership will result in $5 million annual savings for Sun-Times media, a percentage of which will be paid to the Tribune.

"Distribution is an expense that's a core expectation of people. … It's an area where we believe there's a benefit in partnering with competitors. You're not competing in that space or service function,” says Tony Hunter, the Chicago Tribune's senior vice president for circulation and operations.

In challenging times, it’s up to newspapers to recognize the areas in which they can’t partner, while continuing to compete on editorial quality, readers and advertisers.

Last week, the Boston Globe had announced a five-year deal to print some of its competitors’ newspapers.

Source: Chicago Tribune