EXHIBIT 12

TRIBUNE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
COMPUTATION OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
(In thousands, except ratios)

	First Quarter Ended	Fiscal Year Ended December
	3/30/03	2002		2001		2000		1999		1998
Income from continuing operations, before
cumulative effect of accounting change	$141,152		$   608,579		$111,136		$310,401		$1,449,962		$389,197
Add:
Income tax expense	90,202		331,376		157,815		270,351		933,981		272,660
Losses on equity investments	9,014		40,875		60,813		79,374		40,083		33,980
Distributed income from equity investees	3,567		12,567		21,784		9,693		–		–
Minority interest expense, net of tax	–		–		–		16,335		–		–
Subtotal	243,935		993,397		351,548		686,154		2,424,026		695,837
Fixed charge adjustments
Add:
Interest expense	50,947		213,309		254,521		240,708		113,031		88,451
Amortization of capitalized interest	806		3,269		2,989		4,012		2,065		2,068
Interest component of rental expense (1)	5,436		22,503		22,853		18,620		9,312		8,871
Earnings, as adjusted	$301,124		$1,232,478		$631,911		$949,494		$2,548,434		$795,227
Fixed charges:
Interest expense	$  50,947		$   213,309		$254,521		$240,708		$   113,031		$  88,451
Interest capitalized	125		2,383		3,184		1,950		1,117		1,897
Interest component of rental expense (1)	5,436		22,503		22,853		18,620		9,312		8,871
Interest related to guaranteed ESOP debt (2)	709		5,565		8,191		10,718		13,146		15,578
Total fixed charges	$  57,217		$   243,760		$288,749		$271,996		$   136,606		$114,797
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges	5.3		5.1		2.2		3.5		18.7		6.9

(1) Represents a reasonable approximation of the interest cost component of rental expense incurred by the Company.

(2) Tribune Company guarantees the debt of its Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”).