The Tribune operates in a U.S. local-news market that has shifted sharply from print advertising to digital subscriptions and programmatic advertising. Like many regional dailies, it has reduced print frequency while investing in newsletters, mobile apps and a 24/7 website to retain readers and advertisers.

Its competitive position depends on sustained local reporting depth, subscriber retention and the financial health of parent McClatchy under Chatham Asset Management, which acquired the company out of bankruptcy in 2020.

The Tribune covers San Luis Obispo County with a reporting team focused on local government, public safety, education, the environment and Cal Poly athletics. Its long-standing presence in the community, combined with McClatchy's digital infrastructure, supports a mix of daily online reporting and semiweekly print editions.

The newsroom has earned recognition from the California News Publishers Association for general excellence, public service and investigative reporting, including coverage of the Kristin Smart case and mental health issues in SLO County.