The Salt Lake Tribune

The Salt Lake Tribune, was founded in 1870 by William S. Godbe, Elias L.T. Harrison, Edward W. Tullidge, and William H. Shearman in opposition to the political and economic policies of the Mormon church. Before starting this paper, originally named the Mormon Tribune, the founders had started a monthly Utah magazine with the same purpose, The Mormon-owned and run Deseret News called for a boycott of the magazine, so the founders created the weekly newspaper, the Mormon Tribune, changing to a weekly (sometimes semi-weekly) in 1971 and renaming it the Salt Lake Daily Tribune and Utah Mining Gazette. The paper quickly dropped the second half of its name to Salt Lake Tribune.

After some struggle to stay open, the paper was sold to three Kansas citizens who raised the stakes on anti-mormon sentiment, attacking such early Mormon concepts as polygamy. This harsher attitude caused Mormon publications to refer to the new owners as “Those border ruffians.”

C.C. Goodwin joined the Tribune in 1880 as editor, making changes that made the paper more readable. Three years later, he bought into ownership of the paper and stayed on until 1901, when Thomas Kearns, with partner David Keith, who had success with a mining claim, bought the paper. In all of this, the Tribune still struggled. Kearns is reported to have said, “it takes a great mine to run a newspaper.” The paper stayed in ownership of the Kearns family for the better part of a century. Eventually, the Tribune and its main competition, Deseret News were forced to use the same printing facility.

J.F. Fitzpatrick who had been secretary to Kearns, took over as the Tribune’s publisher in 1924. Under Fitzpatrick the paper thrived with advertising revenue and increased circulation ahead of the competition’s. He remained publisher until his 1960 death. Kearns’ nephew John W. Gallivan, took over from Fitzpatrick, staying with the company until 1997.

In 2000, The Tribune published a series on the Mountain Meadow Massacre after remains were discovered during monument construction. The disclosures embarrassed the Mormon Church, and there have been allegations that the church attempted to silence the paper.

The paper itself was caught up in controversy when it was revealed that someone at the paper sold information to the National Enquirer about the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart. This led to the resignation of editor James Shelledy and the removal of two other reporters.

Eventually, Tribune Publishing was purchased by Alden Global Capital in 2010. Six years later, private equity firm, Huntsman Family Investments, LLC, controlled by Paul Huntsman, purchased the company. Paul Huntsman has been President and CEO of Huntsman Family Investments as well as owner and Publisher of the Tribune. Citing the difficulties of running a paper in the current economy, seeking a path forward, he decided to make the paper a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, stating, “The press’s freedom stands as democracy’s cornerstone”.

In 2024, Huntsman stepped away from operating the company.

The Tribune and Deseret News have ended their nearly 70-year publishing agreement.

The paper’s newsroom staff unionized in 2024, becoming the Salt Lake News Guild.

In July 2024, newsroom employees announced their intentions to unionize with the Denver Newspaper Guild and Communications Workers of America. The bargaining unit would represent 31 employees.