We have to imagine this is just the beginning. Earlier today the Chicago Tribune released a statement which basically says it held back on reporting certain parts of the Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich story at the request of the U.S. attorney's office. Fine. This story may turn out to be the best thing that has happened to the Tribune. We shall see.

Just now the Tribune Co. released its own statement saying "the actions of the company, its executives and advisors working on the disposition of Wrigley Field have been appropriate at all times." Says Gerould Kern, editor of the Chicago Tribune: "No one within Tribune Company has ever complained to me about the positions taken by our editorial board, or attempted to influence our coverage of the governor in any way." We shall see. But wow the Tribune Co. is having a crappy week. Full release after the jump.

TRIBUNE STATEMENT ON BLAGOJEVICH CRIMINAL COMPLAINT

CHICAGO, Dec. 9, 2008 — Tribune Company said today the actions of the company, its executives and advisors working on the disposition of Wrigley Field have been appropriate at all times. No one working for the company or on its behalf has ever attempted to influence staffing decisions at the Chicago Tribune or any aspect of the newspaper's editorial coverage as a result of conversations with officials in the governor's administration.

"No one within Tribune Company has ever complained to me about the positions taken by our editorial board, or attempted to influence our coverage of the governor in anyway," said Gerould Kern, editor of the Chicago Tribune. "It should be clear to anyone reading our recent coverage of the governor and his administration that it is fair, balanced and factual."

The staffing decisions of the Chicago Tribune are completely unrelated to the editorial positions expressed within its pages. In fact, the current leadership of the Chicago Tribune editorial board has been in place since 2000. The most recent change to the composition of the board occurred in November 2007, when a board member voluntarily left the company for other employment and was not replaced. Tribune Company and its executives will fully cooperate with the government during its investigation of the governor.

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TRIBUNE is America's largest employee-owned media company, operating businessesin publishing, interactive and broadcasting. In publishing, Tribune's leading daily newspapers include the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, The Baltimore Sun, Sun Sentinel (South Florida), Orlando Sentinel, Hartford Courant, Morning Call and Daily Press. The company's broadcasting group operates 23 television stations, WGN America on national cable, Chicago's WGN-AM and the Chicago Cubs baseball team. Popular news and information websites complement Tribune's print and broadcast properties and extend the company's nationwide audience. At Tribune we take what we do seriously and with a great deal of pride. We also value the creative spirit and are nurturing a corporate culture that doesn't take itself too seriously.