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  <TITLE>Form 8-K - December 22, 2004</TITLE>
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  <CENTER><FONT SIZE=4><B>UNITED STATES <BR>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B></FONT> <br>
  <FONT SIZE=3><B>WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549</B></FONT></CENTER>
  
  <H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT SIZE=4>FORM 8-K</FONT></H1>
  
  
  <CENTER><B>CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)<BR>
   OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</B></CENTER>
  <br>
  <br>
  <CENTER><B>DATE OF REPORT: &nbsp;&nbsp;December 22, 2004</b></center>
  
  <br><center><b>Commission file number 1-8572</B></CENTER>
  <BR>
  <CENTER><FONT SIZE=4><B>TRIBUNE COMPANY</B></FONT> <br><FONT SIZE=3>(Exact
  name of registrant as specified in its charter)</FONT></CENTER>
  <BR>
  
  <table CELLSPACING="0" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%">
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      <td WIDTH="60%" VALIGN="TOP"><p ALIGN="CENTER"><B>Delaware</B><BR>(State or other
      jurisdiction of<BR>incorporation or organization)<P></td>
      <td WIDTH="40%" VALIGN="TOP"><p ALIGN="CENTER"><B>36-1880355</B><BR>
      (I.R.S. Employer<BR>
      Identification No.)<BR></td></tr>
  <TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
       <TD ALIGN="LEFT"></TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT SIZE="-1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
    <tr>
      <td WIDTH="60%" VALIGN="TOP"><p ALIGN="CENTER"><B>435 North Michigan Avenue<BR>
      Chicago, Illinois</B><BR>
      (Address of principal executive offices)<BR></td>
      <td WIDTH="40%" VALIGN="TOP"><p ALIGN="CENTER"><B>60611</B><BR>
      (Zip code)</td>
    </tr>
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  <BR>
  
  <CENTER>Registrant's telephone number, including area code:&nbsp;&nbsp;(312) 222-9100</CENTER>
  <br>
  <P>&nbsp;</p>
  
  
  <P>Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the obligation of the registrant
  under any of the following provisions: </P>
  
  <P>[&nbsp;&nbsp;]&nbsp;&nbsp;   Written communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</P>
  
  
  <P>[&nbsp;&nbsp;]&nbsp;&nbsp;   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</P>
  
  <P>[&nbsp;&nbsp;]&nbsp;&nbsp;   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</P>
  
  <P>[&nbsp;&nbsp;]&nbsp;&nbsp;   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</P>
  
  
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  <A NAME=A001></A>
  <H1 ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=3>ITEM 1.01.&nbsp;&nbsp; ENTRY INTO A
  MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT. </FONT></H1>
  
  <P>On December 20, 2004, Tribune Company
  (the &#147;Company&#148;) entered into a consulting agreement with Jack Fuller
  (&#147;Fuller&#148;), current President of Tribune Publishing Company and a Tribune
  Company director who is retiring from employment and resigning from board service
  effective December 31, 2004. The Governance and Compensation Committee of the
  Company&#146;s Board of Directors approved the consulting agreement. </P>
  
  <P>The consulting agreement provides for
  a one-year term beginning January 1, 2005 and ending December 31, 2005 and can be
  terminated in the event of Fuller&#146;s death, incapacity or improper conduct. Under the
  agreement, Fuller will provide consulting services to Tribune with respect to publishing
  operations, strategy matters and other mutually agreeable projects on an as-needed basis.
  The agreement provides for a monthly retainer of $51,500 and reimbursement of reasonable
  travel and other business expenses. The agreement also entitles Fuller to computer access
  and office space during the term. As an independent contractor, Fuller will be responsible
  for his own insurance and applicable federal and state taxes. The agreement restricts
  Fuller from competing with the Company during the term and using or disclosing
  confidential information concerning the Company during and after the term. The agreement
  also contains mutual indemnification and non-disparagement provisions. </P>
  
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  <A NAME=A002></A>
  <H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=3>SIGNATURE </FONT></H1>
  
  <P>Pursuant to the requirements of the
  Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed
  on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. </P>
  
  <BR>
  
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      <td WIDTH="40%" VALIGN="TOP"><p ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;<P></td>
      <td WIDTH="60%" VALIGN="TOP"><p ALIGN="LEFT">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;TRIBUNE COMPANY<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
          (Registrant)<BR>&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;</TD></tr>
    <tr>
      <td WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP"><p ALIGN="left">Date:&nbsp;&nbsp;December 22, 2004 </td>
      <td WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP"><p ALIGN="left">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;Mark W. Hianik</u><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
          &nbsp;&nbsp;Mark W. Hianik<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Vice President</td>
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metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "form8k122204.htm", "description": "FORM 8-K - DECEMBER 22, 2004", "secsgml_size_bytes": 5014}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "TRIBUNE CO", "cik": "0000726513", "assigned-sic": "2711", "irs-number": "361880355", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1227"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-08572", "film-number": "041219858"}, "business-address": {"street1": "435 N MICHIGAN AVE", "street2": "STE 600", "city": "CHICAGO", "state": "IL", "zip": "60611", "phone": "3122229100"}}
text: Form 8-K - December 22, 2004
  UNITED STATES
  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
  WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
  FORM 8-K
  CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
  OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
  DATE OF REPORT:   December 22, 2004
  Commission file number 1-8572
  TRIBUNE COMPANY
  (Exact
  name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  Delaware
  (State or other
      jurisdiction of
  incorporation or organization)
  36-1880355
  (I.R.S. Employer
  Identification No.)
  435 North Michigan Avenue
  Chicago, Illinois
  (Address of principal executive offices)
  60611
  (Zip code)
  Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (312) 222-9100
  Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the obligation of the registrant
  under any of the following provisions:
  [  ]     Written communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
  [  ]     Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
  [  ]     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
  [  ]     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
  ITEM 1.01.   ENTRY INTO A
  MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT.
  On December 20, 2004, Tribune Company
  (the "Company") entered into a consulting agreement with Jack Fuller
  ("Fuller"), current President of Tribune Publishing Company and a Tribune
  Company director who is retiring from employment and resigning from board service
  effective December 31, 2004. The Governance and Compensation Committee of the
  Company's Board of Directors approved the consulting agreement.
  The consulting agreement provides for
  a one-year term beginning January 1, 2005 and ending December 31, 2005 and can be
  terminated in the event of Fuller's death, incapacity or improper conduct. Under the
  agreement, Fuller will provide consulting services to Tribune with respect to publishing
  operations, strategy matters and other mutually agreeable projects on an as-needed basis.
  The agreement provides for a monthly retainer of $51,500 and reimbursement of reasonable
  travel and other business expenses. The agreement also entitles Fuller to computer access
  and office space during the term. As an independent contractor, Fuller will be responsible
  for his own insurance and applicable federal and state taxes. The agreement restricts
  Fuller from competing with the Company during the term and using or disclosing
  confidential information concerning the Company during and after the term. The agreement
  also contains mutual indemnification and non-disparagement provisions.
  SIGNATURE
  Pursuant to the requirements of the
  Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed
  on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  TRIBUNE COMPANY
  (Registrant)
  Date:  December 22, 2004
  /s/  Mark W. Hianik
  Mark W. Hianik
  Vice President