-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OOln1Gt/WCWTIvp6cqGsY4xNFQ8mb954abpTIRu1jLtYYbkisWLZXYhrRvqovqoK
 OQb61QISnCzKRoE3b6AfpQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001187864-04-000004.txt : 20040105
<SEC-HEADER>0001187864-04-000004.hdr.sgml : 20040105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040105164101
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001187864-04-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040105

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TRIBUNE CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000726513
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NEWSPAPERS:  PUBLISHING OR PUBLISHING & PRINTING [2711]
		IRS NUMBER:				361880355
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1227

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		435 N MICHIGAN AVE
		STREET 2:		STE 600
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60611
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3122229100

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RYAN PATRICK G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001145037

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08572
		FILM NUMBER:		04505607

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O RYAN ENTERPRISES
		STREET 2:		123 N WACKER DRIVE
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60606
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3127012300
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>f4forpgr.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000726513</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TRIBUNE CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TRB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001145037</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RYAN PATRICK G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>AON CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>200 EAST RANDOLPH STREET, 3RD FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60601</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
    </nonDerivativeTable>


    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Share Units</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.00</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>77.52</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>51.60</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>77.52</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2227.78</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Phantom share units representing deferred cash fees and
reinvestment of dividends.  Amounts are paid in cash
following termination of Board service or plan
participation.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Phantom share units convert to common stock on a
one-for-one basis.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Mark W. Hianik, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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