Tribune Increases Reward to $25,000

Son of Tribune Publishing Employee Killed in 2003 Accident; Story of Luis Mesa Posted on 'America's Most Wanted' Website

CHICAGO, March 24, 2006 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Tribune Company today announced that it has increased the reward to $25,000 for information provided to the Chicago Police leading to the arrest and prosecution of the person or persons responsible for the hit-and-run death of Luis D. Mesa.

Luis was the 8-year-old son of Maria Mesa, an employee of the Tribune-owned South Florida Sun-Sentinel and a former Chicago Tribune employee.

The accident took place on Aug. 15, 2003, when the boy and his family were in Chicago visiting relatives. Luis was struck by a dark-colored, 4-door Chevrolet on the 6200 block of West Grand Avenue. He was crossing the street with his mother and other family members.

"Tribune is again asking the community for help in bringing the hit-and- run driver to justice," said Luis Lewin, Tribune senior vice president/human resources. "We continue to believe that somebody out there has information that could solve this crime. The reward money is least we can do on behalf of Maria, and hopefully it will lead to positive results."

Anyone with information about the accident is encouraged to contact the Chicago Police Department at (312) 745-4521.

Separately, details about the Luis Mesa tragedy now appear on the website of "America's Most Wanted," the popular crime show that airs nationally on the Fox television network. Visit http://www.amw.com and click on "My Story," the section of the site devoted to letters from the public seeking help with unsolved crimes involving people they know. The story of Luis Mesa was submitted this month by Kevin Courtney, a colleague of Maria Mesa at the Sun- Sentinel.

TRIBUNE (TRB) is one of the country's top media companies, operating businesses in publishing and broadcasting. It reaches more than 80 percent of U.S. households and is the only media organization with newspapers, television stations and websites in the nation's top three markets. In publishing, Tribune operates 11 leading daily newspapers including the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune and Newsday, plus a wide range of targeted publications such as Spanish-language Hoy. The company's broadcasting group operates 26 television stations, Superstation WGN 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.

SOURCE Tribune Company