In January of 2016 the Chicago Tribune announced it would be reducing its local reportage inside its own Business section in favor of syndicated content from sources such as Inc., Fast Company and Kiplinger’s. (See the short report at talkingbiznews.com/1/chicago-tribune-cuts-monday-biz-section.)
In the two years hence, one would not likely observe a dramatic downfall in the magnitude or quality of the Tribune’s business coverage of Chicagoland. They continue to publish columnists Robert Reed (ex.: chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/reed/ct-equifax-reprieve-robert-reed-0914-biz-20170913-column.html), Ryan Ori (ex.: chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-mcdonalds-oak-brook-property-20180112-story.html) and Gail MarksJarvis (ex.: chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/ct-biz-money-advice-marksjarvis-column-20170919-story.html), and put out feature articles like chicagotribune.com/business/ct-bluemercury-barry-beck-exec-qa--0521-biz-20170519-story.html by Lauren Zumbach and chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-batavia-development-st-0909-20160908-story.html by Linda Girardi.
Chicago is not a one-newspaper town, though the Sun-Times is a distant second to the Tribune in virtually every reportage category. Even when they draw down their business coverage, the Tribune still reigns the Windy City.
