The History of McClatchy-Tribune Information Services

McClatchy-Tribune Information Services traces its roots to the Detroit Free Press in 1973, when the former Knight Newspapers and the Tribune Co. decided to share news articles. When it made its debut beyond Knight and Tribune Co. newspapers on July 3, 1973, Knight News Service counted 25 subscribers.  Over the next 30 years, several newspaper contributors joined the Knight Ridder and Tribune newspapers as part of the service, including The Gazette of Colorado Springs, The Dallas Morning News, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, New York Daily News, The Orange County Register, St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Seattle Times. With these additions, the news service attained geographic coverage throughout the United States. In 2006, the McClatchy Company acquired Knight Ridder, changing the name of the service and adding to its strength and reach.

	In 1977, the service moved to Washington, where the newsgathering and processing operations remain on the seventh floor of the National Press Building, two blocks from the White House. Sales of KRT products are handled by Tribune Media Services, based in Chicago.
	In 1985, the Knight Ridder Graphics Network was founded. This service merged with the Chicago Tribune’s graphic service and Infographics, a service bought from King Features, to form Knight Ridder/Tribune Graphics Network.
	The Photo Service was launched in 1988 and quickly grew into one of the largest daily providers of news pictures in the United States.
	From 1984 to 1990, several newspaper contributors joined KRT, including the Dallas Morning News, New York Daily News, Orange County Register and Seattle Times. With these additions, the news service attained geographic coverage throughout the United States.
	In 1992, Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News was born, aimed at the fast-growing executive desktop PC market. It was the first KRT service not targeted primarily at newspapers.
	In 1998, the Special Sections unit was created to produce ready-to-publish pages.
	In 2001, KRT Campus was created, offering a range of stories, photos, graphics, illustrations and Web content for college readers.
	In 2006, The McClatchy Company completed the acquisition of Knight-Ridder, Inc., changing the name of the service to McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.