# Chicago Sun Times to be acquired by WBEZ, Chicago's NPR radio station **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [September 30, 2021, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-sun-times-to-be-acquired-by-wbez-chicagos-npr-radio-station/951700 "2021-09-30T23:44:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2021, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-sun-times-to-be-acquired-by-wbez-chicagos-npr-radio-station/951700/1 "2021-09-30T23:44:25Z")
I was very interested to learn that Sun Times Media, the company that owns The Straight Dope Message Board, is set to be acquired by Chicago Public Media, the parent company of WBEZ, the NPR affiliate here. Here are the announcements from each: > **[Sun-Times, WBEZ parent company to explore historic partnership to create...](https://chicago.suntimes.com/business/2021/9/29/22700608/sun-times-wbez-parent-company-talks-combined-entity-chicago-public-media)** > > A final deal would make the Sun-Times a subsidiary of Chicago Public Media. > **[Chicago Public Media’s Plan For Acquiring The Sun-Times Relies On Major...](https://www.wbez.org/stories/chicago-public-media-sun-times-deal-relies-on-major-donors/fba25dd6-cdd2-4dbf-a773-abdb9685f103)** > > Three major funders have offered potential multi-year substantial commitments to fund the public media company’s take-over of the storied newspaper. It isn’t a done-deal but must be pretty far along for it to be made public. I think it’s great news and it could really a boon for journalism in the region. It will be interesting to see what happens. I don’t read papers much anymore but I get the majority of my news from WBEZ. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2021, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-sun-times-to-be-acquired-by-wbez-chicagos-npr-radio-station/951700/2 "2021-09-30T23:51:32Z")
Can Ira Glass be the new admin? ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2021, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-sun-times-to-be-acquired-by-wbez-chicagos-npr-radio-station/951700/3 "2021-09-30T23:58:49Z")
BEZ kicks ass. Wait til they find out none of us are paying anymore, though. That ain’t gonna fly! I welcome our new WBEZ Overlords! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-sun-times-to-be-acquired-by-wbez-chicagos-npr-radio-station/951700/4 "2021-10-01T00:02:04Z")
Oh, boy! Threads broken up by subscription drives! 😄 ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-sun-times-to-be-acquired-by-wbez-chicagos-npr-radio-station/951700/5 "2021-10-01T02:47:57Z")
Maybe this is why Ed’s idea for people to pay him to help write articles got shelved. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-sun-times-to-be-acquired-by-wbez-chicagos-npr-radio-station/951700/6 "2021-10-01T03:14:36Z")
Oooh, SDMB-branded tote bags with your contribution! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-sun-times-to-be-acquired-by-wbez-chicagos-npr-radio-station/951700/7 "2021-10-01T04:18:42Z")
SDMB audiobooks, with Moderator commentaries. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-sun-times-to-be-acquired-by-wbez-chicagos-npr-radio-station/951700/8 "2021-10-01T17:56:16Z")
No mention of the crown jewel in the Sun Times portfolio in either article. That’s weird. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-sun-times-to-be-acquired-by-wbez-chicagos-npr-radio-station/951700/9 "2021-10-01T17:58:15Z")
Will we be forced to create a forum called “Wait! Wait! Don’t Tell Me!”? ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-sun-times-to-be-acquired-by-wbez-chicagos-npr-radio-station/951700/10 "2021-10-01T19:15:48Z")
So how does the Sun Times compare with the Tribune nowadays? Back when I paid attention to newspapers the Tribune was the heavyweight, serious newspaper while the Sun-Times was the lightweight. But the Tribune was recently taken over by a hedge fund that specializes in gutting the news department. > **[Alden closes $633 million purchase of Tribune Publishing; puts newspaper...](https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-alden-closes-tribune-publishing-acquisition-20210525-zo3jd7ibs5alhcr2jlm2pvzaja-story.html)** > > Alden Global Capital has completed its $633 million purchase of Tribune Publishing, taking the Chicago-based newspaper chain private and adding the Chicago Tribune and other major dailies to the hedge fund’s growing portfolio. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-sun-times-to-be-acquired-by-wbez-chicagos-npr-radio-station/951700/11 "2021-10-01T20:14:52Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > So how does the Sun Times compare with the Tribune nowadays? Back when I paid attention to newspapers the Tribune was the heavyweight, serious newspaper while the Sun-Times was the lightweight. But the Tribune was recently taken over by a hedge fund that specializes in gutting the news department. > > [Hedge fund president named new head of Tribune Publishing](https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-alden-closes-tribune-publishing-acquisition-20210525-zo3jd7ibs5alhcr2jlm2pvzaja-story.html) As a long-time Tribune reader, I understand some, but disapprove overall. They offered buyouts to all of their opinion contributors, and most took them. More than that, however, it does seem like the news coverage has become more sensationalized. Also, I don’t know that they’re using AP / UPI more, but it seems that way - there is less “Tribune Exclusive” content. I’m actually considering changing to the Sun Times, but I like the Trib’s comics section better. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2021, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-sun-times-to-be-acquired-by-wbez-chicagos-npr-radio-station/951700/12 "2021-10-02T01:07:46Z")
I love NPR, this is pretty cool. 👍 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2021, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-sun-times-to-be-acquired-by-wbez-chicagos-npr-radio-station/951700/13 "2021-10-02T15:51:12Z")
Yeah, but as Czarcasm said, we will have threads interrupted for fund drives. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2021, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-sun-times-to-be-acquired-by-wbez-chicagos-npr-radio-station/951700/14 "2021-10-02T15:55:22Z")
Well the fund drives might be better than the advertising malware that regularly appears here every year or so. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2021, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-sun-times-to-be-acquired-by-wbez-chicagos-npr-radio-station/951700/15 "2021-10-02T16:22:52Z")
Good point. I’ve never heard an add on NPR about how to cure toe nail fungus. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2021, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-sun-times-to-be-acquired-by-wbez-chicagos-npr-radio-station/951700/16 "2021-10-03T21:55:42Z")
I was gonna post _ **exactly** _ this. But I recon, any new SDAB articles are going to be in the form of three explanations, where you have to pick the right one. Tripler And every post must end excitedly with . . . “_ **This** _ is ~~NPR~~ the Straight Dope!” ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2021, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-sun-times-to-be-acquired-by-wbez-chicagos-npr-radio-station/951700/17 "2021-10-04T15:54:32Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > Oooh, SDMB-branded tote bags with your contribution! As a former proud owner of one of the early “SDMB” t-shirts, I’d donate about fiddy dollahs to that cause if I got a canvas bag with the original logo on each side. Or perhaps, the logo at the top near the handles one each side and below that an early Slug Signorino drawing of our beloved Master… Just saying. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2021, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-sun-times-to-be-acquired-by-wbez-chicagos-npr-radio-station/951700/18 "2021-10-04T16:26:49Z")
Perhaps it’s slipped your mind, then. It was couched as an opinion piece and presented by Annika Mycosis from their Boston affiliate. /s ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2021, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-sun-times-to-be-acquired-by-wbez-chicagos-npr-radio-station/951700/19 "2021-10-04T16:55:44Z")
[![](https://y.yarn.co/d852eac5-c284-4f7c-b651-f8904d659449_text.gif) ](https://y.yarn.co/d852eac5-c284-4f7c-b651-f8904d659449_text.gif) I’m all for that. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2021, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-sun-times-to-be-acquired-by-wbez-chicagos-npr-radio-station/951700/20 "2021-10-04T17:16:10Z")
It would be a tote bag with, “Thanks, schmuck! -Cecil Adams.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-sun-times-to-be-acquired-by-wbez-chicagos-npr-radio-station/951700.md?page=2)