EXHIBIT 31.1

I, Dennis J. FitzSimons, certify that:

|1. | I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Tribune Company;
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|2. | Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue
          statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make
          the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements
          were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly
          report;
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|3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information
          included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the
          financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of Tribune Company as
          of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;
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|4. | Tribune Companys other certifying officer and I are responsible for
          establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in
          Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for Tribune Company and have:
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| | a) | Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure
               controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that
               material information relating to Tribune Company, including its consolidated
               subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly
               during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;
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| | b) | Evaluated the effectiveness of Tribune Companys disclosure controls and
               procedures and presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the
               effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the
               period covered by this quarterly report based on such evaluation; and
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| | c) | Disclosed in this quarterly report any change in Tribune Companys internal
               control over financial reporting that occurred during Tribune Companys
               most recent fiscal quarter (Tribune Companys fourth fiscal quarter in the
               case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely
               to materially affect, Tribune Companys internal control over financial
               reporting; and
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|5. | Tribune Companys other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on
          our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to
          Tribune Companys auditors and the audit committee of Tribune
          Companys board of directors:
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| | a) | All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation
               of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to
               adversely affect Tribune Companys ability to record, process, summarize
               and report financial information; and
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| | b) | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees
               who have a significant role in Tribune Companys internal control over
               financial reporting.
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|Date:  October 29, 2004 | /s/  Dennis J. FitzSimons   
          Dennis J. FitzSimons      Chairman, President and
              Chief Executive Officer
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