A year ago, Lauren Gustus, The Salt Lake Tribune’s CEO and executive editor, told a ballroom full of donors that if the nonprofit newspaper could raise $1 million in a year, The Tribune’s website would drop its paywall.
On Thursday, during The Tribune’s annual fundraising gala, NewsMakers 2025, Gustus followed through with the commitment. Beginning sometime in the first quarter of 2026, she said, The Tribune’s reporting will be free to access online.
“The Tribune cannot afford to continue to limit who has access to independent and trusted news,” Gustus said. “Making the news is only the first step — we must also ensure people can find it."
Because The Tribune will soon be accessible without a paywall, Gustus asked supporters at Thursday’s gala to continue to financially support the paper so it can stay available for everyone.
Read more: The Tribune’s 2025 Annual Report and a lookahead to 2026
NewsMakers award
Along with announcing that people soon will be able to access news from The Tribune for free, Gustus also led the newspaper’s tributes to people who make the news happen.
The titular NewsMakers award was given to Mormon Women for Ethical Government, the League of Women Voters of Utah and the law firm Parr Brown Gee & Loveless — for their work in ensuring Utahns received an independently composed congressional district map.
In 2022, the groups sued the Utah Legislature for repealing Proposition 4, the Better Boundaries initiative meant to ensure independent voting districts and prevent gerrymandering.
On Nov. 11, Utah 3rd District Judge Dianna Gibson ruled that a map drawn by the groups will be implemented ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Gustus commended the groups for bringing a diverse coalition of Utahns together to seek fair representation for the state.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Emma Petty Addams, right, co-executive director of Mormon Women for Ethical Government, talks about the legal effort to restore the voter-approved Proposition 4 redistricting laws in Utah, at The Salt Lake Tribune's fundraiser, NewsMakers 2025, on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. Lauren Gustus, left, The Tribune's executive editor and CEO, moderated the panel discussion, which also featured Katharine Biele, president of the League of Women Voters of Utah, and David Reymann, an attorney with Parr Browne Loveless & Gee.
“One thing no one can say, if they pay any attention to this case, is that the Legislature has not had chance after chance after chance after chance to just do their job,” attorney David Reymann, a Parr Brown shareholder, said during a panel discussion Gustus moderated. Also on the panel were Katharine Biele, president of the League of Women Voters of Utah, and Emma Petty Addams, co-executive director of Mormon Women for Ethical Government.
“We respect the Legislature,” Biele said. “We don’t trust them.”
Utah Solutions award
Kati Jo Christensen, a teacher who has raised money to help pay off Utah students’ lunch debt by dancing on TikTok, was honored with the Utah Solutions Award.
Palak Jayswal, The Tribune’s culture and music reporter, who introduced Christensen and presented her with the award, cited reports that lunch debt in Utah’s public schools has surpassed $3 million.
By filming herself bopping out to songs from bands like The Killers and Abba, Christensen has raised more than $28,000 to pay off lunch debt at 12 schools.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Utah Solutions Award is presented to Kati Jo Christensen, special education teacher for the Weber School District, who posting TikTok dance videos to raise money to pay off student lunch debts. NewsMakers 2025, The Salt Lake Tribune's annual fundraising dinner was held Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City.
“Change-makers like Kati are interested in real problems in our state, and implementing solutions that have lasting impact,” Jayswal said.
Tribune Service award
Sheila R. McCann, one of The Tribune’s two senior managing editors, received The Tribune Service award for her work during 34 years as a reporter and editor.
A steward of The Tribune’s watchdog reporting, McCann’s accomplishments include leading a team of reporters in 2016 to uncover a “chilling choice” victims of sexual assault at Brigham Young University faced — stay silent, or risk being punished for violating the school’s honor code.
Those reporters earned The Tribune a Pulitzer Prize, journalism’s highest honor, and BYU now gives people who report sexual assault amnesty from the honor code, McCann said.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Tribune Service Award is awarded to Sheila R. McCann, senior managing editor of The Tribune during NewsMakers 2025, The Salt Lake Tribune's annual fundraising dinner, held Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City.
“Whether you’re covering challenging stories like these, or sharing stories that surprise and delight, journalism immerses you in the real world in your community,” McCann said.
“Tonight, I’m excited to see The Tribune heading into a new era and a new relationship with Utah as we welcome our readers and our subscribers as members,” McCann said. “I’m so proud to work alongside today’s talented Tribune staff as we take on the challenge of better serving and better connecting with all of you.”