Tribune Co. reported a 27% profit decline....

Tribune Co. reported a 27% profit decline. The earnings decline was blamed on a $14.7-million loss in its newsprint business because of lower selling prices. The newsprint group made a profit of $4.3 million a year earlier.

The publisher of the Chicago Tribune earned $15.4 million, or 17 cents a share, for the first three months of this year, down 27% from $21.1 million, or 26 cents a share, a year ago.