{{short description|Daily newspaper in San Diego, California}} {{redirect|The Evening Tribune|the New York newspaper| The Evening Tribune (Hornell) {{!}} ''The Evening Tribune'' (Hornell)}} {{use American English|date=January 2016}} {{use mdy dates|date=June 2015}} {{infobox newspaper | logo = The San Diego Union-Tribune.svg | image = [[File:The San Diego Union-Tribune.jpg|200px|border]] | caption = May 23, 2015, front page | alt = | type = [[Daily newspaper]] | format = [[Broadsheet]] | owner = [[Southern California News Group]]<br>([[MediaNews Group]]) | founder = William Jeff Gatewood | headquarters = 600 B Street<br />[[San Diego]], California, United States | publisher = Ron Hasse<ref>{{cite news | author-link1 = City News Service | author1 = City News Service | title = San Diego Union-Tribune editor announces he is leaving newspaper | date = July 21, 2023 | url = https://www.kpbs.org/news/local/2023/07/21/san-diego-union-tribune-editor-jeff-light-leaving | work = [[KPBS Public Media|KPBS]] | access-date = July 10, 2024}}</ref> | editor = Lora Cicalo<ref>{{cite news | author-link1 = MediaNews Group | author1 = MediaNews Group | title = Lora Cicalo named senior editor of The San Diego Union-Tribune, Katie Musolf tapped to head advertising revenue division | date = August 4, 2023 | url = https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sandiegouniontribune_lora-cicalo-named-senior-editor-of-the-san-activity-7093388351562526721-cHQv | work = [[LinkedIn]] | access-date = July 10, 2024}}</ref> | founded = {{start date and age|1868}} {{small|(as ''The San Diego Union'')}} | political_position = | language = English | circulation = 26,100 Average print circulation<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brooker |first1=Alice |title=US newspaper circulations 2025: Washington Post print declines 21% in a year |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/north-america/us-newspaper-circulations-2025-washington-post-print-declines-21-in-a-year/ |access-date=24 March 2026 |publisher=Press Gazette |date=March 24, 2026}}</ref> <br /> 50,000 Digital Subscribers <ref>{{cite news |last1=Jennewein |first1=Chris |title=Union-Tribune Tells Readers it Won't Print for First Time, Giving Carriers July 4 Off |url=https://timesofsandiego.com/business/2022/06/20/union-tribune-tells-readers-it-wont-print-for-first-time-giving-carriers-july-4-off/ |access-date=December 6, 2025 |publisher=Times of San Diego |date=June 20, 2022}}</ref> | ISSN = 1063-102X | oclc = 1084359688 | website = {{URL|sandiegouniontribune.com/}} }}
'''''The San Diego Union-Tribune''''' is a metropolitan [[daily newspaper]] published in [[San Diego]], California, that has run since 1868. Its name derives from what were San Diego's two major daily newspapers, the morning ''San Diego Union'' and the ''San Diego Evening Tribune'', which had the same publisher beginning in 1901 and were frequently referred to collectively as the ''Union-Tribune''; they were merged into a single edition under that name in 1992.
The name was changed to '''''U-T San Diego''''' in 2012 but returned to ''The San Diego Union-Tribune'' in 2015.<ref name="Beutner">{{cite news | last = Beutner | first = Austin | title = LA Times, Union-Tribune Combine Forces | url = https://www.utsandiego.com/news/2015/may/21/tribune-sale-letter-readers-austin-beutner/ | newspaper = The San Diego Union-Tribune | date = March 15, 2015 | access-date = 2025-09-23 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220130/http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/may/21/tribune-sale-letter-readers-austin-beutner/ |archive-date = 2016-03-03}}</ref>
In 2015, the newspaper was acquired by [[Tribune Publishing]]. In February 2018, it was announced it would be sold, along with the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', to [[Patrick Soon-Shiong]]'s investment firm Nant Capital LLC for $500 million plus $90 million in pension liabilities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=James |first=Meg |last2=Koren |first2=James Rufus |date=February 7, 2018 |title=Billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong reaches deal to buy L.A. Times, San Diego Union-Tribune |url=http://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-los-angeles-times-sold-20180207-story.html |access-date=February 7, 2018 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> The sale was completed on June 18, 2018.<ref name="Soon-Shiong">{{cite press release|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|date=June 18, 2018|title=tronc, Inc. Announces Closing of the Los Angeles Times and The San Diego Union-Tribune Sale|location=Chicago|publisher=[[Tronc]]|url=http://investor.tronc.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=254385&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2355030|access-date=June 18, 2018}}</ref> In July 2023, Soon-Shiong sold the paper to [[Digital First Media]], a company owned by [[Alden Global Capital]].<ref name="Weisberg" />
==History== [[File:San Diego Union newspaper building (c. 1870s).jpg|thumb|right|''San Diego Union'' building, {{Circa|1870s}}]] [[File:San Diego Sun newspaper building (1908).jpg|thumb|right|''San Diego Sun'' building, 1908]] [[File:San Diego Daily Bee newspaper building (1908).jpg|thumb|right|''San Diego Daily Bee'' building, 1908]] [[File:San Diego Tribune Building 2022.jpg|thumb|The San Diego Union-Tribune Building, 2022]]
===Predecessors=== The predecessor newspapers of the ''Union-Tribune'' were:<ref name="Cornerstone8081">{{cite book|title=San Diego: California's Cornerstone|author=Engstrand, Iris|pages=80–81|publisher=[[Sunbelt Publications]]|date=2005|isbn=978-0-932653-72-7}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt6r29q3mg/ |title= Guide to the San Diego Union-Tribune Photograph Collection |publisher= [[Online Archive of California]]}}</ref> * ''San Diego Herald'', founded 1851 and closed April 7, 1860; [[John Judson Ames]] was its first editor and proprietor.<ref>{{cite web|title=San Diego 120 Top Influential Pioneers|url=http://www.sddt.com/120Pioneers/profile.cfm?CUID=3Q0RV38J&Start=5&_t=John+Judson+Ames|work= [[San Diego Daily Transcript]] |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141110102000/http://www.sddt.com/120Pioneers/profile.cfm?CUID=3Q0RV38J&Start=5&_t=John+Judson+Ames | date=2006 |archive-date = 2014-11-10 |access-date = 2025-10-13}}</ref> * ''San Diego Sun'', founded 1861 and merged with the ''Evening Tribune'' in 1939. * ''San Diego Union'', founded October 3, 1868.<ref name="Foreman">{{cite journal |last1=Foreman |first1=Carolyn Thomas |title=Edward W. Bushyhead and John Rollin Ridge: Cherokee Editors in California |url=https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc2192018/m2/1/high_res_d/1936-v14-n3_a02.pdf |access-date=1 August 2024 |journal=[[The Chronicles of Oklahoma]] |date=Autumn 1936 |volume=14 |issue=3 |pages=295–311 |publisher=[[Oklahoma Historical Society]] |location=Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727224810/https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc2192018/m2/1/high_res_d/1936-v14-n3_a02.pdf |archive-date=27 July 2024 |issn=0009-6024 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{rp|296}} * ''San Diego Evening Tribune'', founded December 2, 1895.
In addition, the ''San Diego Union'' purchased the ''San Diego Daily Bee'' in 1888, and for a brief time the combined newspaper was named the ''San Diego Union and Daily Bee''.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.sandiegohistory.org/books/smythe/5-3.htm |title= Part Five: Chapter III: Later Journalism and Literature |publisher= [[San Diego History Center]]}}</ref>
=== John D. Spreckels === {{see also|John D. Spreckels}}
In 1890, businessman John D. Spreckels, then living in San Francisco and owner of ''[[The San Francisco Call]]'', bought the ''San Diego Union'', followed by his purchase of the ''San Diego Evening Tribune'' in 1901. He moved to San Diego after the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake]], eventually becoming the wealthiest man in the city.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://sandiegohistory.org/archives/biographysubject/spreckels/ |title = John D. Spreckels (1853-1926) |website = San Diego History Center |access-date = 2025-09-23 |date = }}</ref>
===Copley Press=== After Spreckels's death, the ''Union'' and ''Tribune'' were acquired in 1928 by [[Copley Press]] from the J. D. and A. B. Spreckels Investment company.<ref>{{cite news | agency = [[United Press]] | title = San Diego Newspapers Sold to Illinois Man | url = https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPNP19280121.2.14 | newspaper = San Pedro News Pilot | page = 1 | date = 1928-01-21 | access-date = 2025-09-23}}</ref>
In 1950 Copley Press acquired the ''[[San Diego Daily Journal]]'', merging it into the ''Evening Tribune''.<ref>{{cite book | last = Pourade | first = Richard | title = The History of San Diego | chapter = CHAPTER FOUR: The City – The End of One Civic Dream | chapter-url = https://sandiegohistory.org/archives/books/citydream/ch4/ | volume = 7 City of the Dream, 1940–1970 | url = https://sandiegohistory.org/archives/books/citydream/ | publisher = Copley Books | isbn = 9780913938195 | date = 1977 | access-date = 2025-10-13}}</ref> The ''Union'' and ''Evening Tribune'' were merged into a single edition on February 2, 1992.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/may/05/lz1ed5top201857-copley-legacy/ |title= The Copley Legacy |work= The San Diego Union-Tribune |date= May 5, 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170525195434/http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-lz1ed5top201857-copley-legacy-2009may05-story.html | archive-date = 2017-05-25 |access-date = 2025-09-23 }}</ref>
The merged newspaper was sold to the private investment group [[Platinum Equity]] of [[Beverly Hills, California]], on March 18, 2009.<ref>{{cite news |last= Kupper |first= Thomas |url= http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/mar/18/bn18sale105226/ |title= Union-Tribune Sold to Platinum Equity |work= The San Diego Union-Tribune |date= March 18, 2009}}</ref>
===Platinum Equity=== On August 17, 2010, the ''Union-Tribune'' changed its design to improve "clarity, legibility, and ease of use". Changes included being printed on thinner, 100 percent recycled paper, moving the comics to the back of the business section, and abbreviating the title ''The San Diego Union-Tribune'' on the front page to ''U-T San Diego''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Apple |first=Charles |url=http://apple.copydesk.org/2010/08/17/san-diego-union-tribune-launches-redesign/ |title=San Diego Union-Tribune Launches Redesign |publisher=Apple.copydesk.org |date=August 17, 2010 |access-date=October 31, 2010}}</ref> The ''U-T'' nameplate was created by Jim Parkinson, a [[type designer]] who also created nameplates for ''[[Rolling Stone]]'', ''[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]]'', and ''[[Newsweek]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last= Vore |first= Adrian |url= http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2015/may/26/whats-in-a-nameplate-a-lot-actually/ |title= What's in a Nameplate? A Lot, Actually |work= The San Diego Union-Tribune |date= May 26, 2015 |access-date= May 27, 2015}}</ref>
===MLIM Holdings=== In November 2011, Platinum Equity sold the newspaper to MLIM Holdings, a company led by [[Doug Manchester]], a San Diego real estate developer and "an outspoken supporter of conservative causes". The purchase price was reportedly in excess of $110 million.<ref name = "sold">{{cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/18/business/media/san-diego-union-tribune-sold-to-hotelier-for-more-than-100-million.html |title= ''San Diego Union-Tribune'' Sold to Hotelier for More Than $100 Million |work= [[The New York Times]] |date= November 17, 2011}}</ref> Manchester built two landmark downtown hotels, the [[Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel]] and the [[San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina]]. His group also owns the Grand Del Mar luxury resort in San Diego.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://manchesterfinancialgroup.com/html/portfolio.html|title=Manchester Grand Resorts|publisher=Manchester Financial Group|access-date=December 16, 2013}}</ref>
===''U-T San Diego''=== [[File:The San Diego Union-Tribune (2012-08-13).svg|thumb|Logo between 2012 and 2015|150px]] [[File:The San Diego Union-Tribune (2011-05-03).svg|150px|thumb|Logo in 2011]] On January 3, 2012, the newspaper announced that it would use the name ''U-T San Diego'' "on all of our media products and communications"; the newspaper's website (formerly called "SignOn San Diego" and available under SignOnSanDiego.com) would use the name UTSanDiego.com. The official announcement explained the change as being intended to "unify our print and digital products under a single brand with a clear and consistent expectation of quality".<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/jan/03/our-readers-ut-san-diego/ |title= To Our Readers |work= UTSanDiego.com |date= January 3, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first= Dan |last= Walters |url= http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2012/01/san-diego-union-tribune-becomes-u-t-san-diego.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120111103738/http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2012/01/san-diego-union-tribune-becomes-u-t-san-diego.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= January 11, 2012 |title= San Diego Union-Tribune Becomes 'U-T San Diego' |work= [[The Sacramento Bee]] |date= January 3, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author-link= Jim Romenesko |first= Jim |last= Romenesko |url= http://jimromenesko.com/2012/01/03/san-diego-union-tribune-becomes-u-t-san-diego/ |title= ''San Diego Union-Tribune'' Becomes ''U-T San Diego'' | publisher = JimRomanesko.com |date= January 3, 2012}}</ref>
''U-T San Diego'' bought the ''[[North County Times]]'' in September 2012.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.nctimes.com/business/media-u-t-san-diego-to-buy-north-county-times/article_1a704a44-a29c-5435-9ec6-bf8badac660a.html |title= ''U-T San Diego'' to Buy ''North County Times'', Californian |work= [[North County Times]] |date= September 11, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120913040334/http://www.nctimes.com/business/media-u-t-san-diego-to-buy-north-county-times/article_1a704a44-a29c-5435-9ec6-bf8badac660a.html |archive-date= September 13, 2012 |df= mdy-all }}</ref> On October 15, 2012, the ''North County Times'' ceased publication and became the ''U-T North County Times'', which was an edition of the ''U-T'' with some North County–specific content.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/UT-north-county-times-174295201.html |title= ''U-T'' Combines with ''North County Times'' |publisher= [[KNSD-TV]] }}</ref> Six months later the ''U-T North County Times'' name was dropped and the newspaper became a North County edition of the ''U-T''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Groves |first=Alex |title=Does end of Times leave news void? |url=https://www.northcoastcurrent.com/enterprise/2013/06/does-end-of-times-leave-news-void/ |access-date=2024-07-12 |website=North Coast Current}}</ref> In November 2013, the newspaper bought eight more local weekly newspapers (''La Jolla Light'', ''Del Mar Times'', ''Rancho Santa Fe Review'', ''Poway News Chieftain'', ''Rancho Bernardo News Journal'', the ''Solana Beach Sun'', the ''Carmel Valley News'' and the ''Ramona Sentinel'') in the San Diego area, which continued publication under their own names.<ref>{{cite news |first= Jonathan |last= Horn |url= http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/nov/01/mainstreet-newspapers-lajollalight-delmartimes/ |title= U-T Buys 8 Local Community Newspapers |work= U-T San Diego |date= November 1, 2013}}</ref> In 2014, ''U-T San Diego'' launched a ninth paper, the ''Encinitas Advocate''.<ref>{{cite web| title = U-T launches Encinitas weekly newspaper| work = San Diego Union-Tribune| access-date = 2021-10-09| date = 2014-06-20| url = https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/economy/sdut-ut-encinitas-newspaper-weekly-journalism-news-2014jun20-story.html}}</ref>
In 2012, ''U-T San Diego'' launched "U-T TV", a cable television channel. It featured news, lifestyle, and editorial content produced by the newspaper's staff, and was created as part of the newspaper's growing emphasis on multi-platform content under Manchester. On February 20, 2014, U-T TV, hampered by not being carried by Time Warner Cable, ended its operation on its two remaining cable outlets. The channel's remaining staff was retained to produce video content for the newspaper's digital properties.<ref>{{cite web|last=Malone|first=Michael|title=U-T TV Goes Dark|url=https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/local-tv/u-t-tv-goes-dark/129288|work= [[Broadcasting & Cable]] |access-date=February 20, 2014|date=February 20, 2014}}</ref>
===Tribune Publishing ownership=== On May 7, 2015, it was announced that the [[Tribune Publishing Company]], publisher of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'', and other newspapers, had reached a deal to acquire ''U-T San Diego'' and its associated properties for $85 million. The sale ended the newspaper's 146 years of private ownership. The transaction was completed on May 21, 2015. On the same date, the newspaper reintroduced its previous branding as ''The San Diego Union-Tribune''.<ref name = "Beutner" />
The ''Union-Tribune'' and the ''Los Angeles Times'' became part of a new operating entity known as the California News Group, with both newspapers led by ''Times'' publisher and chief executive officer [[Austin Beutner]]. The two newspapers reportedly would retain distinct operations, but there would be a larger amount of synergy and content sharing between them.
The acquisition did not include the newspaper's headquarters, which was retained by Manchester and would be leased by the newspaper.<ref name=uts-tribunebuy>{{cite news |title= $85M Deal to Combine ''U-T'', ''LA Times'' |url= http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2015/may/07/tribune-buys-sandiego-newspaper/ |work= U-T San Diego |date= May 7, 2015 |access-date= May 8, 2015}}</ref><ref name=lat-utbuy>{{cite news |title= L.A. Times Parent to Buy San Diego Paper, Expanding Reach in Southern California |url= http://www.latimes.com/business/la-me-newspaper-sale-20150507-story.html#page=1 |access-date= May 8, 2015 |work= [[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref>
On May 26, 2015, the newspaper announced it would [[layoff|lay off]] 178 employees, representing about thirty percent of the total staff, as it consolidated its printing operations with the ''Times'' in Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite news |last=Pfeifer |first=Stuart |url=http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-union-tribune-layoffs-20150527-story.html |title=San Diego Union-Tribune Lays Off 178, Mostly in Printing, Delivery |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=May 27, 2015 |access-date=May 27, 2015 }}</ref> In 2016, ''The San Diego Union Tribune'' acquired the monthly entertainment magazine ''Pacific San Diego''.<ref>{{Cite web| title = Union Tribune Acquires Pacific San Diego Magazine| access-date = 2018-06-23| url = https://www.sandiegoville.com/2016/06/union-tribune-acquires-pacific-san.html}}</ref> On June 13, 2015, at 10:02 p.m. PDT the final run of ''The San Diego Union Tribune'' was printed at the San Diego headquarters in Mission Valley began.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/jun/15/ut-presses-cease-printing/|title=End of an era: U-T presses cease|first=Michele|last=Parente|work=sandiegouniontribune.com|date=June 16, 2015 |access-date=January 12, 2017}}</ref> It was to print the Sunday edition newspaper for June 14, 2015. The following Monday's newspaper would be printed at the ''Los Angeles Times'' location. The dismantling of the printing presses in Mission Valley began in mid-September 2015.
===Purchase by Patrick Soon-Shiong=== In February 2018, a deal was reached to sell the ''Union-Tribune'' to [[Patrick Soon-Shiong]], a physician who has made billions as a biotech entrepreneur. The deal also included the ''Los Angeles Times'' and multiple community newspapers.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/economy/sd-me-billionaire-owners-20180208-story.html|title=New U-T, Times owner joins ranks of billionaire buyers|last=Wilkens|first=John|date=February 11, 2018|newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune|access-date=22 April 2018}}</ref> The sale closed on June 18, 2018.<ref name="Soon-Shiong" />
===Sale to Alden Global Capital=== On July 10, 2023, it was announced that the ''U-T'' was sold to the [[MediaNews Group]], owned by [[Alden Global Capital]], for an undisclosed sum. Soon-Shiong retained ownership of the ''Los Angeles Times''. MediaNews Group already owned about 100 newspapers and is the parent company of the [[Southern California News Group]]. MediaNews Group immediately announced that employees would be offered buyouts to resign, and that if not enough employees took up the offer, additional layoffs would be necessary.<ref name=Weisberg>{{cite news|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/story/2023-07-10/deal-announced|title=The San Diego Union-Tribune sold to Alden Global Capital|last=Weisberg|first=Lori|date=July 10, 2023|work=The San Diego Union Tribune|access-date=11 July 2023}}</ref>
In December 2023, the newspaper announced the last issue of ''U-T en Español'', its Spanish-language tabloid, would be published on Dec. 30.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schultz |first=Ray |date=December 28, 2023 |title='San Diego Union Tribune' Closes Spanish-Language Weekly |url=https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/392227/san-diego-union-tribune-closes-spanish-language.html |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=MediaPost |language=en}}</ref>
On June 13, 2024, a newly redesigned website was launched, similar to other newspapers in the Alden Global Capital group, replacing a design that was used for the ''Los Angeles Times.''<ref>{{cite news | author-link1 = The San Diego Union-Tribune | author1 = The San Diego Union-Tribune | title = Welcome to the new sandiegouniontribune.com: What's changed, FAQs and more | date = June 13, 2024 | url = https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2024/06/13/new-san-diego-union-tribune-faq/ | work = The San Diego Union-Tribune | access-date = July 16, 2024}}</ref>
==Headquarters== The newspaper was originally located in [[Old Town, San Diego|Old Town San Diego]], and was moved to [[downtown San Diego]] in 1871. In 1973, it moved to a custom-built, brick and stone office and printing plant complex in [[Mission Valley, San Diego|Mission Valley]].
The newspaper moved back downtown in May 2016, to offices on the 9th through 12th floors of a tower at 600 B Street. The Union-Tribune was to be the named tenant of the building, replacing Bridgepoint Education and, before that, Comerica.<ref>{{cite news |last=Showley |first=Roger |date=May 16, 2016 |title=U-T: Back downtown |url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/may/16/union-tribune-downtown/ |newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune |location=San Diego, CA |access-date=June 4, 2016 }}</ref>
==Awards==
===Pulitzer Prizes=== * '''1979''', Breaking News Reporting: San Diego ''Evening Tribune'' for its coverage of the [[PSA Flight 182]] jetliner collision with a small plane over [[North Park, San Diego, California|North Park.]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pulitzer.org/awards/1979|title=1979 Winners|publisher=The Pulitzer Prizes|access-date=January 14, 2014}}</ref> * '''1987''', Editorial Writing: San Diego ''Evening Tribune'' editorial writer Jonathan Freedman for his editorials urging passage of the first major immigration reform act in 34 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pulitzer.org/awards/1987|title=1987 Winners and Finalists|publisher=The Pulitzer Prizes|access-date=January 14, 2014}}</ref> * '''2006''', National Reporting: The San Diego ''Union-Tribune'' and Copley News Service (with notable work by [[Marcus Stern (journalist)|Marcus Stern]] and Jerry Kammer), for their disclosure of bribe-taking that sent former Rep. [[Duke Cunningham|Randy "Duke" Cunningham]] to prison "in disgrace".<ref>{{cite news |last= McDonald |first= Jeff |url= http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20060418-9999-1n18pulitzer.html |title= U-T, Copley News Win Pulitzer Prize |work= The San Diego Union-Tribune |date= April 18, 2006}}</ref> They also received the [[George Polk Awards|George Polk Award]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brooklyn.liu.edu/polk/press/2005.html|title=George Polk Awards for Journalism press release|access-date=November 15, 2006|publisher=Long Island University|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304210647/http://www2.brooklyn.liu.edu/polk/press/2005.html}}</ref> for these stories. * '''2009''', Editorial Cartooning: [[Steve Breen]] "for his agile use of a classic style to produce wide ranging cartoons that engage readers with power, clarity and humor".
==Criticisms==
===Copleys and Platinum Equity=== Under the Copleys' ownership, the newspaper had a reliably conservative editorial position, endorsing almost exclusively [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] for elective office, and sometimes refusing to interview or cover [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] candidates.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}
Under Platinum Equity, the newspaper's editorial position "skewed closer to the middle" and showcased multiple viewpoints.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://eastcountymagazine.org/node/7931|title=Media Watchdog: Union Tribune Sale Raises Media Ethics Concerns|last=Raftery|first=Miriam|date=November 20, 2011|work=East County Magazine|access-date=June 9, 2013}}</ref>
===Manchester and Lynch=== When Manchester and business partner [[John Lynch (radio)|John Lynch]] took ownership in 2011, Lynch stated on [[KPBS-FM|KPBS]] radio that he and Manchester "wanted to be cheerleaders for all that is good in San Diego".<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.kpbs.org/news/2011/nov/17/union-tribune-sold-doug-manchester/ |last= Sharma |first= Anita |title= Developer Doug Manchester Buys Union-Tribune |publisher= [[KPBS-FM]] |date= November 17, 2011}}</ref> Lynch expanded on this position in 2012, saying "We make no apologies. We are doing what a newspaper ought to do, which is to take positions. We are very consistent—pro-conservative, pro-business, pro-military—and we are trying to make a newspaper that gets people excited about this city and its future."<ref name="pulpit">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/11/business/media/san-diego-union-tribune-open-about-its-pro-business-motives.html?_r=0|title=Newspaper as Business Pulpit|last=Carr|first=David|date=June 10, 2012|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=June 8, 2013}}</ref>
This open promotion of certain viewpoints resulted in criticism from journalism professors and other newspaper editors, who worried that negative news about topics such as the military and business might not be covered.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.kpbs.org/news/2012/sep/11/its-official-u-t-san-diego-buying-north-county-tim/ |first1= Erik |last1= Anderson |first2= Megan |last2= Burke |first3= Maureen |last3= Cavanaugh |first4= Peggy |last4= Pico |agency= City News Service |title= It's Official: ''U-T San Diego'' Is Buying ''North County Times'' |publisher= [[KPBS-TV]] |date= September 11, 2012}}</ref> Dean Nelson, director of the journalism program at [[Point Loma Nazarene University]], argued, "Now if you're saying we're going to be the cheerleaders of the military, why would you report on this guy that's taking bribes?... Where's the cheerleading there?" a reference to the ''Union-Tribune''{{'s}} [[Pulitzer Prize]] winning coverage of the [[Duke Cunningham]] bribery scandal.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/economy/article_df889cac-fc78-11e1-a1ec-0019bb2963f4.html |last= Davis |first= Rob |title= Manchester Consolidates Power with Second Newspaper Buy |work= [[Voice of San Diego]] |date= September 11, 2012}}</ref> A ''[[New York Times]]'' writer added, "There is a growing worry that the falling value and failing business models of many American newspapers could lead to a situation where moneyed interests buy papers and use them to prosecute a political and commercial agenda. That future appears to have arrived in San Diego."<ref name = "pulpit" />
Lynch said, "We totally respect the journalistic integrity of our paper and there is a clear line of demarcation between our editorials and our news. Our editor, Jeff Light, calls the shots." However, in November 2011 Lynch told the sports editor that the sports pages should advocate for a new football stadium; when a longtime sportswriter wrote skeptically about the idea, he was fired.<ref name = "pulpit" />
====Downtown redevelopment==== In January 2012, two months after Manchester bought the ''U-T'', the newspaper featured a front-page proposal for downtown redevelopment, to include a downtown football stadium and an expansion of the [[San Diego Convention Center]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/jan/22/think-big-think-big-new-vision-needed-for/|type= Editorial |title= Think Big: New Vision Needed for Downtown Waterfront|date=January 22, 2012|work=San Diego Union-Tribune|access-date=June 9, 2013}}</ref> Both properties are adjacent to hotels that Manchester owns.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dougmanchester.com/|title=Papa Doug Manchester | publisher = dougmanchester.com |access-date=June 9, 2013}}</ref>
In September 2012, ''[[Investigative Newsource]]'' reporter Brooke Williams obtained articles that claimed Lynch "threatened" Port Commissioner [[Scott Peters (politician)|Scott Peters]], who was running for Congress, "with a newspaper campaign to dismantle the Unified [[Port of San Diego]]". In e-mails obtained by Williams, Lynch was quoted as indicating that if the [[Dole Food Company]] obtained a long-term contract, that the Port's independence governance would be questioned in editorial coverage. Williams said the effort showed "the extent to which the newspaper's new owners will go to push their vision for a football stadium on the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal",<ref>{{cite news |url= http://inewsource.org/port-commissioner-the-ut-is-coming-after-us/ |title= Port Commissioner: 'The UT Is Coming After Us,' |work= Investigative Newsource |date= September 27, 2012}}</ref>
====Endorsements and polling==== During the [[2012 San Diego mayoral election|2012 mayoral election]] the owners of the ''U-T'' donated to Republican City Council Member [[Carl DeMaio]]'s campaign,<ref>{{cite news |url= http://voiceofsandiego.org/2012/10/22/the-head-spinning-polls-in-the-mayors-race/ |first= Scott |last= Lewis |title= The Head-Spinning Polls in the Mayor's Race |work= [[Voice of San Diego]] |date= October 22, 2012}}</ref> and the newspaper ran several prominent editorials favoring DeMaio. Those endorsements were wrapped around the front section of the newspaper on a separate page, "as though they were even more important" than the front page.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://voiceofsandiego.org/2012/09/11/the-two-faces-of-papa-doug/|title=The Two Faces of Papa Doug|last=Lewis|first=Scott|date=September 11, 2012|work= [[Voice of San Diego]] |access-date=October 13, 2013}}</ref>
In October 2012, a poll was taken by the ''U-T'' asking respondents to choose between DeMaio and Democratic Congressman [[Bob Filner]] in the mayoral election to be held in November. A rival news outlet noted that "Employees of a newspaper, television / radio station, marketing / public opinion research company or the city of San Diego—or who live with someone employed in one of those fields" were excluded from the poll results, which showed the Republican leading the Democrat, 46 percent to 36 percent. Reporter [[Kelly Davis (reporter)|Kelly Davis]] of SDCityBeat.com wrote: "Common sense dictates that those votes [by city employees or those living with them] would swing in Filner's favor due to DeMaio's long-running feud with city-employee unions." But ''U-T'' assignment editor Michael Smolens replied that "city employees were excluded to avoid political entanglements" in other parts of the ballot as well as in the mayor's race.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.sdcitybeat.com/sandiego/blog-100000004-why-were-city-employees-excluded-from-the-u-t-mayoral-poll.html |first=Kelly |last= Davis |title= Why Were City Employees Excluded from the U-T Mayoral Poll? |work= San Diego CityBeat |date= October 25, 2012}}</ref><ref>[http://www.utsandiego.com/mayoral_poll1021] Poll results</ref> Despite the newspaper's efforts, DeMaio lost to Filner.
Lynch handed day-to-day operations to another executive in February 2014,<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/media-tag/u-t-san-diego-ceo-john-lynch-hands-reins-to-president-mike-hodges/ |last= Lewis |first= Scott |title= U-T San Diego CEO John Lynch Hands Reins to President Mike Hodges |work= [[Voice of San Diego]] |date= February 7, 2014}}</ref> and editor Jeff Light became company president in January 2015.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2015/jan/12/union-tribune-leadership-hodges-light-chief/ |last= Horn |first= Jonathan |title= Light Named U-T President & COO |work= U-T San Diego |date= January 12, 2015}}</ref> In 2016, Light was named publisher.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/mar/18/light-union-tribune-publisher-editor/|title=U-T's news and business chief|first=Adrian|last=Vore|work=sandiegouniontribune.com|date=March 19, 2016 |access-date=January 12, 2017}}</ref>
==Publishers== {{div col|colwidth=30em}} * William Jeff Gatewood founded the newspaper, which first published October 10, 1868. He sold his interest to Charles P. Taggart in May 1869.<ref>{{cite book | title = San Diego and Imperial Counties California: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement | date = 1913 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Bm4UAAAAYAAJ&q=jeff+gatewood+publisher+from&pg=PA200 |publisher=[[S.J. Clarke Publishing Co.]] |page=201 | access-date = September 8, 2015| last1 = Black | first1 = Samuel T. }}</ref> * [[Edward Wilkerson Bushyhead|Edward "Ned" Wilkerson Bushyhead]], 1868–1873. Established the paper with Gatewood after they moved their newspaper publishing partnership from [[San Andreas, California|San Andreas]] to San Diego.<ref name="Foreman" />{{rp|296}} Born in [[Tennessee]], Bushyhead (1832–1907) was a miner, publisher and lawman.<ref name="Foreman" />{{rp|295–299}} Part [[Cherokee]], he was the son of [[Jesse Bushyhead]], a Baptist preacher, whom he accompanied from Georgia to Indian Territory on the [[Trail of Tears]] at the age of seven.<ref name="Foreman" />{{rp|295}} Having moved to San Diego, he became the "silent" publisher of the ''San Diego Union''.<ref name="Foreman" />{{rp|296}} In 1873, he sold the newspaper.<ref name="Foreman" />{{rp|297}} In 1875, he was elected sheriff of [[San Diego County]] and re-elected for a second term in 1884.<ref name="Foreman" />{{rp|298}} * [[Douglas Gunn]], 1871–1886. Gunn (August 31, 1841 – November 26, 1891) was a scholar, publisher, pioneer and Republican politician from California. * [[John D. Spreckels]], 1890–1926. The son of German-American industrialist Claus Spreckels, he founded a transportation and real estate empire in San Diego. * Col. [[Ira C. Copley]], 1928–1947 * [[James S. Copley]], 1947–1973. Journalist; publisher of the ''San Diego Union'' and ''San Diego Evening Tribune'' from 1947 until his death in 1973. * [[Helen K. Copley]], 1973–2001 * [[David C. Copley]], 2001–2009 * Edward R. Moss, May 2009{{snd}} December 2011<ref>{{cite news|last=Davis | first=Rob|title=Doing More With Moss| url=http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/articles/2009/10/30/people/881moss103009.txt|date=October 30, 2009|work= [[Voice of San Diego]] |access-date=November 8, 2009}}</ref> * Doug F. "Papa Doug" Manchester, 2011–2015<ref>{{cite news | title = Union-Tribune Returns to Local Hands | date = December 6, 2011 | url = http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2011/dec/06/union-tribune-returns-to-local-hands/ | work = The San Diego Union-Tribune | access-date = January 5, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = San Diego Developer Purchases City's Newspaper | date = December 6, 2011 | url = http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9RFBP9O0.htm | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120814134921/http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9RFBP9O0.htm | archive-date = August 14, 2012 | agency = [[Associated Press]] |work= [[Bloomberg Businessweek]] | access-date = January 5, 2012}}</ref> * Austin Beutner, May{{snd}} September 2015 * Timothy E. Ryan, September 2015{{snd}} March 2016<ref>{{cite news|author-link1=Christopher Goffard |author1=Goffard, Christopher |author2=Pfeifer, Stuart | title = Publisher Austin Beutner Is Fired After a Yearlong Drive to Reshape The Times | date = September 9, 2015 | url = http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-austin-beutner-tribune-publishing-20150908-story.html | work = [[Los Angeles Times]] | access-date = January 22, 2016}}</ref> * Jeff Light, March 2016{{snd}} July 2023 * Ron Hasse, beginning July 2023 {{div col end}}
==Notable people== {{div col|colwidth=30em}} * [[Steve Breen]], cartoonist * [[Phil Collier]], sportswriter * [[Edward L. Fike]], editorial page editor * [[Thomas Gardiner (publisher)|Thomas Gardiner]], manager of the ''San Diego Union'' in 1891 * [[C.H. Garrigues]], ''Sun'' reporter * [[Jerry Magee]], sportswriter 1956–2008 * [[Jack Murphy (sportswriter)|Jack Murphy]], sportswriter 1951–1980 * [[Cathy Scott]], correspondent, ''The San Diego Union-Tribune'' 1990–1993 * [[Tim Sullivan (sports columnist)|Tim Sullivan]], sports columnist 2002–2012 * [[Gerald Lee Warren|Gerald Warren]], reporter and editor, 1956–1968, 1975–1995; also [[White House Press Secretary]] {{div col end}}
==See also== {{Portal|Journalism|California}} * [[List of newspapers in California]] * [[Media in San Diego]] {{clear}}
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== * {{official website|https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/}} * [http://www.sandiegohistory.org/books/smythe/5-3.htm Early newspaper history from ''History of San Diego''] by [[William E. Smythe]] (1907–1909)
{{MediaNews Group}} {{PulitzerPrize National Reporting}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:San Diego Union Tribune, The}} [[Category:Daily newspapers published in California]] [[Category:Newspapers published in San Diego]] [[Category:George Polk Award recipients]] [[Category:Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting winners]] [[Category:Pulitzer Prize–winning newspapers]] [[Category:Newspapers established in 1868]] [[Category:1868 establishments in California]] [[Category:Newspapers published in California]] [[Category:Copley Press publications]] [[Category:2015 mergers and acquisitions]] [[Category:2018 mergers and acquisitions]] [[Category:2023 mergers and acquisitions]]