MCT News Service

Tribune Content Agency (TCA) is a syndication company owned by Tribune Publishing. TCA had previously been known as the Chicago Tribune Syndicate, the Chicago Tribune New York News Syndicate (CTNYNS), Tribune Company Syndicate, and Tribune Media Services. TCA is headquartered in Chicago, and had offices in various American cities (Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Queensbury, New York; Arlington, Texas; Santa Monica, California), the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Hong Kong.

History

Sidney Smith 's early comic strip ''The Gumps'' had a key role in the rise of syndication when Robert R. McCormick and Joseph Medill Patterson, who had both been publishing the ''Chicago Tribune'' since 1914, planned to launch a tabloid in New York, as comics historian Coulton Waugh explained:

Patterson founded the Chicago Tribune Syndicate in 1918, managed by Arthur Crawford.Watson, Elmo Scott
"The Era of Consolidation, 1890-1920" (Chapter VII)
in ''A History Of Newspaper Syndicates In The United States, 1865-1935'' (Western Newspaper Union, 1936)

/ref>

In 1933, Patterson (who was then based in New York and running the ''Daily News''), launched the Chicago Tribune-Daily News Syndicate, Inc. (also known as the Chicago Tribune-New York News Syndicate and the Tribune-New York (Daily) News Syndicate).

An April 1933 article in ''Fortune'' described the "Big Four" American syndicates as United Feature Syndicate, King Features Syndicate, the Chicago Tribune Syndicate, and the Bell-McClure Syndicate.Jeet Heer, "Crane's Great Gamble", in Roy Crane, ''Buz Sawyer: 1, The War in the Pacific''. Seattle, Wash.: Fantagraphics Books, 2011. Mollie Slott kept the syndicate running in its mid-century glory days.

In 1968, the syndicate offered about 150 features to approximately 1400 client newspapers.

Tribune Publishing acquired the Times Mirror Company in 2000, with the Los Angeles Times Syndicate being merged into Tribune Media Services.

In 2006 The McClatchy Company inherited a partnership with the Tribune Company, in the news service Knight Ridder-Tribune Information Services, when it acquired Knight Ridder; the new service was called the McClatchy-Tribune News Service (MCT). In 2014, Tribune bought out McClatchy's share of the company, taking full ownership of MCT and moving its headquarters to Chicago.

On June 25, 2013, the newspaper syndication News & Features division of Tribune Media Services became the Tribune Content Agency.

On June 12, 2014, Tribune Media Services was merged into Gracenote. After the 2014 split of Tribune Company assets between Tribune Media and Tribune Publishing, Gracenote went to Tribune Media (who would sell it to Nielsen Holdings in 2016) while Tribune Content Agency content remained with Tribune Publishing.

On September 22, 2014, the McClatchy-Tribune News Service (MCT) was renamed the Tribune News Service (TNS).

Products and Services

TCA distributes media products, such as news, columns, comic strips, Jumble and crosswords, printed insert books, video, and other information services to publications across the United States, Canada, and other countries in English and Spanish for both print and web syndication.

Tribune Premium Content is a subscription service for newspapers and other media channels. The content provided includes comics, puzzles, games, editorial cartoons, as well as feature content packages. Tribune Premium Content also syndicates content from other sources, such as The Atlantic, Rolling Stone, Kiplinger, Harvard Health and Mayo Clinic.

TCA's news service, Tribune News Service, offers breaking news, lifestyle and entertainment stories, sports and business articles, commentary, photos, graphics and illustrations.

Tribune SmartContent is an information service filtered to provide targeted content. Full-text news feeds deliver articles from 600 sources from around the world.

TCA also offered products and services for niche markets via TCA Specialty Products.

TCA has, worldwide, 600-plus contributors and serves more than 1,200 clients, services and resellers.

Management

* Wayne Lown, General Manager
* Rick DeChantal, Sales Director
* Pia Ingberg, Director, European Operations
* Mustafa Sharaan, Director of International Business Development
* Jack Barry, VP/Operations (and Acquisitions Editor)
* Zach Finken, Associate Editor
* Matt Maldre, Marketing Manager

Comic strips

Strips as of 2022

* '' 9 to 5''
* ''Animal Crackers''
* ''Bliss'' by Harry Bliss
* ''Bottom Liners''
* '' Bound and Gagged''
* '' Brewster Rockit: Space Guy!''
* ''Broom-Hilda''
* ''Dick Tracy''
* ''Gasoline Alley''
* ''Gil Thorp''
* '' Love Is...''
* '' Middletons, The''
* ''Mount Pleasant''
* ''Pluggers''

Discontinued strips

* ''The Adventures of Smilin' Jack'' by Zack Mosley (1933–1973)
* ''Aggie Mack / Aggie'' by Hal Rasmusson and Roy L. Fox (1946–1972)
* ''Beyond Mars'' by Jack Williamson & Lee Elias (February 17, 1952 – May 13, 1955)
* ''Bobby Make-Believe'' by Frank King (1915–1919)
* '' Brenda Starr, Reporter'' originally by Dale Messick (1940–2011)
* ''Ching Chow'' originally by Sidney Smith and Stanley Link (1927–1990)
* ''Closer Than We Think'' by Arthur Radebaugh (January 12, 1958 – January 6, 1963) — Sunday panel
* ''Compu-toon'' by Charles Boyce (1994–1997; moved to Universal Uclick)
* '' Conrad'' by Bill Schorr (1982–1986)
* ''Deathless Deer'' by Alicia Patterson and Neysa McMein (1942–1943)
* ''Dondi'' by Gus Edson and Irwin Hasen (1955–1986)
* ''Friday Foster'' by Jim Lawrence and later Jorge Longarón (1970–1974)
* ''The Gumps'' by Sidney Smith (1917–1959)
* ''Harold Teen'' by Carl Ed (1919–1959)
* ''Helen, Sweetheart of the Internet'' by Peter Zale (5 June 2000 – 25 December 2005)
* ''Housebroken'' (2002–2010)
* ''In the Bleachers'' by Steve Moore (1985–1995; moved to Universal Press Syndicate)"Steve Moore (In the Bleachers): by GoComics,"
GoComics (March 13, 2015).
* ''Kennesaw'' by Reamer Keller (1953–1955)
* ''Li'l Abner'' by Al Capp (1964–1977) — moved over from United Feature Syndicate
* '' Little Joe'' originally by Ed Leffingwell (October 1, 1933–1972)''Little Joe''
at Don Markstein's Toonopedia
Archived
from the original on September 3, 2015.
* ''Little Lulu'' (June 5, 1950 – May 1969) by Woody Kimbrell (1950–1964), Roger Armstrong (1964–1966), and Ed Nofziger (1966–1969)
* ''Little Orphan Annie'' by Harold Gray and others (1924–2010)
* ''Lola'' by Todd Clark (1999–2005; moved to United Feature Syndicate)
* ''Lolly'' (later changed to ''Lolly and Pepper'') by Pete Hansen (1955–1983)
* ''Louie'' by Harry Hanan (1947–1976)
* ''Mary Perkins, On Stage'' by Leonard Starr (February 1957 – September 9, 1979)
* ''Moon Mullins'' by Frank Willard & Ferd Johnson (1923–1991)
* ''Mother Goose and Grimm'' by Mike Peters (cartoonist), Mike Peters (1984–2002; moved to King Features Syndicate)
* ''Motley's Crew'' by Ben Templeton and Tom Forman (1976–2000)
* ''My Son John'' by Bill Hoest (April 4 1960 – c. April 1962)
* '' The Neighbors'' by George Clark (1939–1971)
* ''Old Doc Yak'' by Sidney Smith (February 5, 1912 – June 22, 1919, December 7, 1930 – February 25, 1934) — second iteration as a weekly topper strip for ''The Gumps''
* ''The Pink Panther'' by Eric and Bill Teitelbaum (2004-2009)
* ''Raising Hector'' by Peter Ramirez (2006-2010)
* ''Rick O'Shay'' by Stan Lynde (April 27, 1958 – March 8, 1981)
* ''Shoe'' by Jeff MacNelly and then others (1977–2008; moved to King Features Syndicate)
* '' Smitty'' by Walter Berndt (1922–1973)
* '' Smokey Stover'' by Bill Holman (1935–1973)

* ''Spy vs. Spy'' by Duck Edwing and Dave Manak (2002–2014)
* '' Sylvia'' (1981–2012)
* ''Tales of the Green Beret'' by Robin Moore & Joe Kubert (September 20, 1965 – 1968)
* ''The Teenie Weenies'' by William Donahey (June 14, 1914 – October 26, 1924; September 24, 1933 – December 2, 1934; May 18, 1941 – February 15, 1970)
* ''Terry and the Pirates'' (1934–1973) by Milton Caniff (1934–1946) and George Wunder (1946–1973)
* ''Texas Slim'' by Ferd Johnson (1925–1958)
* '' Tiny Tim'' by Stanley Link (July 23, 1933 – March 2, 1958)
* ''Whiteboy'' (later changed to ''Whiteboy in Skull Valley'' and then simply ''Skull Valley'') by Garrett Price (Oct. 8, 1933–Aug. 16, 1936)Markstein, Don
"Whiteboy,"
Toonpedia. Accessed Oct. 26, 2018.
* ''Winnie Winkle'' (1920–1996) by Martin Branner (1920–1962), Max Van Bibber (1962–1980), and Frank Bolle (1980–1996)
* ''The World's Greatest Superheroes'' by numerous creators (1978–1985)

Editorial cartoons

* Nick Anderson
* Bill Bramhall
* Walt Handelsman
* Phil Hands
* David Horsey
* Joel Pett
* Drew Sheneman
* Scott Stantis
* Dana Summers
* Joey Weatherford

Columns and articles

Advice

* ''Ask Amy'' by Amy Dickinson
* ''God Squad, The'' by Marc Gellman
* ''Harvard Health Letters''
* ''Interpersonal Edge'' by Daneen Skube
* ''Mayo Clinic Q & A''
* ''Medicine Cabinet, The: Ask the Harvard Experts''
* ''My Answer from the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham''
* ''My Pet World'' by Cathy M. Rosenthal
* ''Real Estate Matters'' by Ilyce R. Glink and Samuel J. Tamkin
* ''Right Thing, The'' by Jeffrey L. Seglin

Business & Personal Finance

* ''Careers Now'' by Kathleen Furore
* ''Credit Card Chart, The''
* ''Global Viewpoint Network'' by Nathan Gardels
* ''Interpersonal Edge'' by Daneen Skube
* ''Jill on Money'' by Jill Schlesinger
* ''Kids & Money'' by Steve Rosen
* ''Kiplinger Consumer News Service''
* ''Kiplinger’s Money Power''
* ''Markets & Mutual Funds''
* ''Money Market Package''
* ''Savings Game, The'' by Elliot Raphaelson
* ''Success'' featuring Kiplinger, ''Inc. Magazine'' and ''Fast Company''
* Terry Savage
* ''Your Money'' by Kiplinger''

Entertainment

Card games

* ''Daily Bridge Club'' by Frank Stewart
* ''Goren Bridge'' by Bob Jones
* ''Poker'' by Tony Dunst and Bryan Devonshire

Humor

* ''Dave Barry Year in Review'' by Dave Barry
* ''Humor Hotel'' by Greg Schwem
* ''Today’s Chuckle'' by Harlan Collins

Pop culture

* ''Bang Showbiz''
* ''Cover Media''
* ''Film Clips'' by The Chicago Tribune
* ''Rolling Stone''
* ''Nielsen SoundScan''
* ''Ranker''
* '' Variety Entertainment News Service''
* ''Video Games'' by GamerHub.TV

Sports

* ''Daily Racing Form’s Consensus''
* ''Latest Line'' by J. McCarthy

Food

* ''America's Test Kitchen''
* ''Entrée Feature Package'' featuring Environmental Nutrition, Eating Well, The Kitchn and Seriously Simple

Health

* ''Environmental Nutrition''
* ''Harvard Health Letters''
* ''How to Keep Well'' by Irving S. Cutter (1935–?)
* ''Mayo Clinic Q & A''
* ''Medicine Cabinet, The: Ask the Harvard Experts''
* ''Premium Health News Service'' by Various Contributors

Home

* ''Ask the Builder'' by Tim Carter
* ''Do It Yourself…Or Not?'' by Gene and Katie Hamilton
* ''Living Space'' by '' Better Homes & Gardens'', ''Real Simple'', ''Parents magazine'', ''Midwest Living'', and ''Southern Living''
* ''Real Estate Matters'' by Ilyce R. Glink and Samuel J. Tamkin

Lifestyle

* ''24/7 Wall St.''
* Ana Veciana-Suarez
* ''Drive, The''
* ''Fresh Toast, The''
* ''Linda C. Black Horoscopes'' by Nancy Black
* ''My Pet World'' by Cathy M. Rosenthal
* ''Tuesdays with Mitch'' by Mitch Albom
* ''Your Daily Astrology'' by Magi Helena

Magazines

* '' Atlantic, The''
* ''Cut, The''
* ''Defense One''
* ''Fast Company''
* ''Foreign Affairs''
* ''Harvard Health Letters''
* ''Inc. Magazine''
* '' MIT Sloan Management Review & Report''
* ''MIT Technology Review''
* ''New Scientist''
* ''New York (magazine), New York Magazine''
* ''Psychology Today''
* ''Quartz (publication), Quartz''
* ''Rolling Stone''
* ''Variety Entertainment News Service''
* ''Vulture''

Opinion

* Bill Press
* Cal Thomas
* Clarence Page
* David Horsey
* ''The Diplomat, Diplomat, The''
* Gary Franks
* ''Global Viewpoint Network'' by Nathan Gardels
* Jonah Goldberg
* Mary Sanchez
* ''Oppenheimer Report, The'' by Andrés Oppenheimer
* Rachel Marsden
* Rev. Jesse Jackson
* Robert Koehler
* Robert Reich
* S. E. Cupp
* Victor Davis Hanson

Travel

* ''Celebrity Travel'' by Jae-Ha Kim
* ''Ed Perkins on Travel'' by Ed Perkins
* ''Rick Steves’ Europe'' by Rick Steves
* ''Taking the Kids'' by Eileen Ogintz

World News

* '' Atlantic, The''
* ''Defense One''
* ''Deutsche Welle''
* ''Foreign Affairs''

Discontinued columns and columnists

* Nancy Dorris: cooking (1930s)
* W. A. Evans, M.D.: health column (1919–1933)
* ''Little Old New York'', by Ed Sullivan (1935–1940s)
* Danton Walker, column on Broadway theatre (1939–1940s)
* Clare Boothe Luce: national political convention coverage) (1940s)
* ''Beauty Answers'' by Antoinette Donnelly (1919–c. 1946)
* Antoinette Donnelly, Doris Blake: ''Love Problems'', ''Heart Chats'', and ''Heart to Heart Talks'' (1921–1946)
* ''Mainly About Manhattan'' by John Chapman (1933–1946)
* ''Parent-Child'' by Gladys Bevans (1927—c. 1946)
* ''Rush & Malloy'' by George Rush and Joanna Molloy (?–2009)
* ''Inside the Video Games'' (?–2009)
* Samantha Power (?–2009)
* Paul A. Samuelson (?–2010)
* ''Test Drive'' by Jim Mateja (?–2010)
* Joe Galloway (?–2010)
* Eric Heiden (2009-2011)
* Kathy Kristof (?–2011)
* ''Swift Justice'' by Nancy Grace (2010-2011)
* Michael Showalter (?–2011)
* ''Naturally Savvy'' (?–2011)
* Jen Lancaster (2011)
* ''Social Studies'' by Julia Allison (2010-2011)
* Garrison Keillor (?–2012)
* Robyn Blumner (?–2013)
* Alexander Heffner (?–2013)
* Ta-Nehisi Coates (?–2013)
* ''Retire Smart'' (?–2014)
* Joel Brinkley (2014)
* ''Travel Troubleshooter'' by Christopher Elliott (?–2014)
* Andy Rooney (?–2014)
* ''Brazen Careerist'' (?–2014)
* William Pfaff (?–2015)
* ''a Google a Day'' (2011-2015)
* ''Jean Knows Cars'' by Jean Jennings (2015–2016)
* Steve Dale (?–2016)
* Kristyn Schiavone (2011-2016)
* ''So Social'' by Scott Kleinberg (?–2016)
* ''Apps of the Week'' (?–2016)
* Diane Farr (?–2016)
* ''Your Other 8 Hours'' by Robert Pagliarini (?–2016)
* ''Virtual Tourist'' (?–2016)
* ''Cultivating Life'' (?–2016)
* Ian Bremmer (?–2017)
* Frank Rich (?–2017)
* ''Global Events in Context'' by David Keys (?–2017)
* Liz Smith (?–2017)
* Mario Batali (2011–2017)
* ''Kids Doctor'' by Sue Hubbard, M.D. (?–2018)
* Anya Kamenetz (?–2018)
* ''One for the Table'' (?–2018)
* Paul Greenberg (?–2018)
* ''The Smart Collector'' by Danielle Arnet (?–2019)
* ''Global Economic Viewpoint'' by Nathan Gardels (?–2019)
* Henry Kissinger (?–2020)
* Paul Kennedy (?–2020)
* ''Simple Style'' by Aramide Esubi (?–2020)
* ''Wolfgang Puck's Kitchen'' by Wolfgang Puck (?–2020)
* Carl Hiassen (?–2021)
* ''Scopin the Soaps'' by Toby Goldstein (?–2021)
* John Kass (?–2021)
* Mary Schmich (?–2021)
* Rex Huppke (?–2022)
* Politics Today by Jules Witcover (?–2022)
* Leonard Pitts, Leonard Pitts Jr. (?–2022)

Games & puzzles

Crosswords

* ''Daily Commuter Puzzle, The'' by Jackie Mathews
* ''Jumble, Jumble Crosswords'' by David L. Hoyt
* ''Los Angeles Times Crossword Puzzle'' by Joyce Nichols Lewis and Rich Norris
* ''Quote-Acrostic''
* ''TV Crossword, The'' by Jackie Mathews

Jumble games

* '' Jumble'' by David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek
* ''Jumble, Jumble Crosswords'' by David L. Hoyt
* ''Jumble, Jumble for Kids'' by David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek
* ''Jumble, TV Jumble'' by David L. Hoyt

Logic puzzles

* ''Futoshiki / More or Less''
* ''Hitori''
* ''Junior Mind Gym''
* ''Kakuro'' by Michael Mepham
* ''Killer Sudoku''
* ''Killer Sudoku Pro''
* ''Kubok''
* ''Mind Gym''
* ''Samurai Sudoku''
* ''Sudoku Daily'' by Michael Mepham

Visual puzzles

* ''Spot the Difference''

Word puzzles

* ''ArrowWords''
* ''Boggle BrainBusters'' by David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek
* ''Code-Cracker''
* ''SCRABBLEgrams''
* ''Word Salsa'' by Tony Tallarico
* ''Word Wheel''

Premium Editions

* ''Brainbusters: The Ultimate Puzzle Book''
* ''Envelope’s Oscar Preview, The''
* ''Family Health Guide from Harvard Health Publications''
* ''Guide to Entertaining: Be the Best Holiday Host This Year''
* ''Guide to Fitness from Harvard Health Publications''
* ''Guide to Investment from Morningstar''
* ''Guide to Retirement from Morningstar''
* ''Guide to Summer Entertaining''
* ''International Travel Guide''
* ''Life Skills: How to do almost anything''
* ''Mayo Clinic Guide to Healthy Eating''
* ''Pet Power''
* ''Travel Guide U.S.A.''

See also

* List of newspaper comic strips

References

External links

*

{{Tribune Content Agency comics

Comic strip syndicates
Mass media companies of the United States
Comic strips syndicated by Tribune Content Agency
Dick Tracy
Tribune Publishing