CHICAGO, Nov. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its ongoing commitment to the written word and its support of literacy and literary endeavor, the Chicago Tribune has announced the purchase of the Printers Row Book Fair from the Near South Planning Board. The Fair -- the largest free outdoor literary event in the Midwest -- drew more than 75,000 book lovers to the two-day showcase in 2002.

"The Fair has a broad cultural impact through the programs it supports and the participants it brings to Chicago," said Owen Youngman, Chicago Tribune vice president/development. "We view it as an important part of what makes the Near South area of Chicago a vital, growing part of the City of Chicago, and we intend to invest in the Fair in ways that cement its importance in both the city and the community."

He continued: "In addition, as we increase the size and scope of our philanthropic commitment to literacy through Chicago Tribune Foundation and Chicago Tribune Charities [a fund of the McCormick Tribune Foundation], we believe the Printers Row Book Fair will help us draw even more attention to the importance of this issue for all of Chicagoland."

The Printers Row Book Fair was founded in 1985 to attract visitors to the Printers Row neighborhood (once the city's bookmaking hub). By 2002, it had grown to five city blocks (on Dearborn, from Congress to Polk), attracting more than 170 booksellers from across the country displaying new, used and antiquarian books, and featuring six stages with more than 80 free literary programs.

"Over the past 18 years, Printers Row has become one of the best book fairs in the country," said Bette Cerf Hill, a founder of the Fair. "Personally, I hope that with the Tribune's backing, it will become the best in terms of being a literary event and outdoor book fair."

"As a visitor and presenter, I've been a huge fan of the Printers Row Book Fair," said Elizabeth Taylor, Chicago Tribune literary editor. "It's a really authentic Chicago institution that's evolved out of a growing neighborhood. We respect the Fair's tradition and are committed to maintaining its unique character. We hope to build on the Fair's success by working with our partners in the literary community to support this fabulous weekend by attracting more writers and book enthusiasts to the event."

The Fair has been run by the not-for-profit Near South Planning Board, which will now concentrate more of its resources and attention in other areas of the community. "We have worked hard the last 18 years to establish the Fair, which is now recognized as a top tourist attraction not only for Chicago but for Illinois," said Bonnie Sanchez-Carlson, president and executive director of the Near South Planning Board. "The Chicago Tribune has the ability to raise the profile of the Fair even further and expand literacy efforts in Chicagoland."

The 2003 Printers Row Book Fair is scheduled for June 7 and 8, with the Near South Planning Board Literary Dinner slated for June 5. The Literary Dinner kicks off the Fair, and since 1989 has been the forum for presenting the Harold Washington Literary Award, given to an author who creatively uses the written word to address issues of contemporary life. Past recipients include Grace Paley, August Wilson, Robert Pinsky and Studs Terkel. Proceeds from the dinner support the Near South Planning Board's Authors in the Schools program, which sends published children's authors into third-grade classrooms as part of students' reading and writing curriculum.

Chicago Tribune Company publishes the Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper with daily readership of more than 2 million and nearly 3 million on Sunday. The company also operates related developing media businesses serving Chicagoland. Chicago Tribune is the founding publication of Tribune Company (NYSE: TRB), one of the country's leading media companies, operating businesses in broadcasting, publishing and on the Internet.

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SOURCE Chicago Tribune

-0- 11/29/2002

/CONTACT: Patty Wetli of the Chicago Tribune, +1-312-222-4429/