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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.26

                          HOLLINGER INTERNATIONAL INC.
                       401 NORTH WABASH AVENUE, SUITE 740
                             CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60611

                                                                  April 13, 2004

                                   IMPORTANT!

            PLEASE READ THIS LETTER CAREFULLY. EFFECTIVE MAY 1, 2004 ALL OPTION
            TRANSACTIONS WILL BE SUSPENDED UNTIL THE COMPANY BECOMES CURRENT IN
            ITS FILINGS WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ("SEC").

To:         Option Plan Participants under Hollinger International Inc. (the
            "Company") 1994 Stock Option Plan, 1997 Stock Incentive Plan and
            1999 Stock Incentive Plan ("Option Plans")

Dear Option Plan Participants:

      The purpose of this letter is to let you know that, effective on May
1, 2004, all transactions under our Option Plans will be suspended for a period
of time.

      As you know, the Company formed a Special Committee of independent
directors to investigate related party transactions and other payments made to
certain executives of the Company and its controlling stockholder, Hollinger
Inc., and other affiliates in connection with the sale of the Company's assets
and other transactions. At this time, the Special Committee's investigation is
still ongoing. The Company believes that it needs to review the Special
Committee's final report before it can complete its Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the period ended December 31, 2003 and file it with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. In addition, the Company has experienced a disruption of
management services provided to it arising from a dispute with Ravelston
Corporation Limited, which had provided services to the Company in the past in
connection with the preparation of its financial statements. As a result of
these factors, the Company has not yet been able to file its Annual Report and
will not be in a position to do so until after the Special Committee completes
its final report.

      This issue affects the Option Plans because the shares that are issued
under the Option Plans are required to be registered with the SEC, and in order
to maintain the registration of these shares the Company is required to stay
current with its SEC filings. In order for the registration of the shares under
the Option Plans to continue

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uninterrupted, we would need to file the 10-K by April 30, 2004. At this time we
do not believe we will be able to file the 10-K by that date.

      As a result, May 1, 2004 will begin a period during which you will not be
able to exercise options under the Option Plans. You will continue to be free to
resell any shares acquired as a result of exercise (even if you choose to resell
after April 30, 2004) subject to the Company's securities trading policies(1).
This non-exercise period will last until the Company once again becomes current
in its SEC filings. As soon as the Company becomes current in its SEC filings,
this suspension of activity will end and you will be free to execute
transactions under the Option Plans in the ordinary course. You should also know
that the suspension of activity does not affect the vesting schedule with
respect to previously granted options.

      The Option Plans generally provide that you have 30 days following the
date of your termination of employment with the Company to exercise your vested
options. If your employment with the Company terminates at any time from now
until the end of the suspension period described above, the Company will extend
the 30-day exercise period to provide you 30 days after the conclusion of the
suspension period to exercise your vested options. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE COMPANY
CANNOT EXTEND THE EXERCISE PERIOD OF ANY OPTIONS BEYOND THE EXPIRATION OF THEIR
10-YEAR TERMS. AS A RESULT, IF YOU HAVE VESTED OPTIONS WITH A 10-YEAR TERM THAT
ARE SCHEDULED TO EXPIRE ON MAY 2, 2004 AND YOU INTEND TO EXERCISE THEM, YOU MUST
ACT ON OR PRIOR TO APRIL 30, 2004

      If you wish to exercise any vested options before the suspension period
begins, you must complete these transactions prior to the close of trading on
April 30, 2004. If you do not complete these transactions prior to the close of
trading on April 30, you will not be able to exercise your vested options until
the Company again becomes current in its SEC filing obligations. If you intend
to exercise vested options prior to April 30, please allow sufficient time for
the completion of paperwork and the processing of your request.

      You should feel free to contact Linda Loye, Assistant Corporate Counsel,
at (312) 321-3136 if you have any further questions regarding any of the
foregoing.

                                           Very truly yours,

                                           James R. Van Horn
                                           Corporate Counsel
                                           Hollinger International Inc.
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(1)   Note, however, that special rules apply to certain officers, directors and
      other executives of the Company and its subsidiaries that will restrict
      their ability to resell shares after April 30, 2004. Feel free to contact
      Linda Loye, Assistant Corporate Counsel, for further information.