• by Erik Sass  @eriksass1, February 1, 2010

The Chicago Tribune will trim an inch from the width of its newspaper beginning Feb. 8, editor Gerould W. Kern revealed in a letter to readers in the Monday edition. Although the newspaper will remain the same length as before, the new format will involve some changes to the paper's design, format and editorial content.

In his letter to readers Kern explained: "This new page size is becoming the industry standard, and many newspapers across the country already have made this change or will do so this year. The narrower page reduces our costs, enabling us to bring you the news coverage you value."

The transition to a smaller broadsheet width will entail changes, including moving columns and shrinking some headlines and photos slightly. However, the font size for articles will remain the same. Several comic strips have been dropped, and some news ones added as part of the shift.

The announcement comes as the Tribune Co. struggles to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, which it entered over a year ago, in December 2008. It was forced to declare bankruptcy after proving unable to service nearly $8 billion in debt assumed in a 2007 transaction that took the company private.

In late November 2009, a bankruptcy judge gave Tribune until the end of February to come up with a reorganization plan, but this decision is being challenged by senior creditors led by JPMorgan Chase. JPMorgan's move to take control of the company is being challenged, in turn, by junior creditors who allege the whole deal was insolvent from the start and thus a "fraudulent conveyance."

The size and layout of newspapers has been one area where Tribune Co. has tried to trim costs. In June 2008, the company revealed that it would cut editorial content at all its newspapers, including the flagship Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times and Baltimore Sun, so that at least half of each edition is advertising.