The following excerpt email was sent to staff by Chicago Tribune executive editor Mitch Pugh:
All,
I’m sad to report that Managing Editor Chrissy Taylor has decided to leave the Chicago Tribune. Her last day will be Oct. 8.
I’ve only known Chrissy a few weeks. Yet, I can unequivocally say she is among the most fearless, driven and talented journalists I’ve had the pleasure to meet. The work she has done since coming to Chicago in 2018 to transform this newsroom is remarkable.
She has crafted an audience strategy that has helped fuel explosive digital subscription growth and deeper engagement. Her insight has helped inform a rethinking of roles and responsibilities across the organization. She has guided work that has reshaped the way we tell stories, recognizing we need to meet readers where they are with products and journalism that match their needs. In fact, best practices from Chrissy’s work in Chicago have been shared widely within our industry, becoming a model for newsrooms around the country.
Whether here or her previous role in Hartford, she’s also helped lead authoritative news coverage.
Journalism is in her blood, and I know moving on from this company after 17 years of service was a difficult decision. She will soon be able to share what she’s doing next. When she does, it will be clear why this was the right move for her. Better yet, we will be able to continue to learn from her as she stays close to the news.
So please join me on this bittersweet day in celebrating the great work Chrissy has done at the Tribune and wishing her the best on her new adventure.
Next steps for us: I will continue to evaluate the biggest needs we have as a news organization and hope to make some decisions in the coming weeks on how we will fill Chrissy’s formidable shoes. In the meantime, I welcome feedback from the team.
Thank you.
Mitch Pugh
Executive Editor-Chicago Tribune
