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EXHIBIT 12

TRIBUNE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

COMPUTATION OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
(In thousands, except ratios)

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

(1)

Income from continuing operations, before cumulative effect of accounting change, included an after-tax non-operating net loss of $9.3 million and after-tax restructuring charges of $16.7 million in 2002, an after-tax non-operating net loss of $45.7 million and after-tax restructuring charges of $92.6 million in 2001, an after-tax non-operating net loss of $91.3 million in 2000, and after-tax non-operating net gains of $1,067.6 million in 1999 and $63.5 million in 1998. Excluding these non-operating items and the restructuring charges, the ratio of earnings to fixed charges was 5.4 in 2002, 3.0 in 2001, 4.0 in 2000, 5.8 in 1999, and 5.9 in 1998. See Notes 2 and 3 to the Company's consolidated financial statements and the Eleven Year Financial Summary in Item 8 for further discussion of these restructuring charges and non-operating items.

(2)

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

(3)

Tribune Company guarantees the debt of its Employee Stock Ownership Plan ("ESOP").

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EXHIBIT 12

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