Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Finds Buyer to Keep Newspaper Open

The 240-year-old publication was set to shut down in May before a last-minute deal.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 3:52pm

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a stack of old, worn newspapers with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette masthead visible, set against a clean, monochromatic seamless background with dramatic lighting and deep shadows, conceptually representing the enduring value of community-focused news outlets.The preservation of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, one of the nation's oldest newspapers, signals the continued importance of local journalism in the digital age.Today in Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, one of the nation's oldest newspapers, announced it has found a buyer that will keep the troubled publication open. The Post-Gazette's owners, Block Communications, said the Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism, which publishes the digital Baltimore Banner, had agreed to purchase the newspaper's assets. Financial details were not disclosed, but the new owners plan to continue printing the Post-Gazette twice a week and operate a website on other days.

Why it matters

The closure of the Post-Gazette would have left Pittsburgh, the second-largest city in Pennsylvania, without a city-based newspaper, a concerning development for local journalism and civic engagement. The sale to the Venetoulis Institute, a nonprofit focused on supporting local news, aims to preserve the Post-Gazette's legacy and ensure the city maintains a dedicated news source.

The details

The Post-Gazette dates its ancestry back to 1786, making it the first newspaper to open west of the Allegheny Mountains. Under the new ownership agreement, the newspaper will continue to print on Thursdays and Sundays, with a website operating on the other days. The sale comes less than a month before the Post-Gazette was set to shut down on May 3.

  • The Post-Gazette was set to close on May 3, 2026.
  • The sale to the Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism was announced on April 14, 2026.

The players

Block Communications

The previous owner of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism

A nonprofit organization that publishes the digital Baltimore Banner and has agreed to purchase the assets of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

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What’s next

The sale is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks, allowing the Venetoulis Institute to take over operations of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and continue its 240-year legacy of local journalism.

The takeaway

This deal represents a positive outcome for the future of local news in Pittsburgh, as a nonprofit organization focused on supporting community journalism has stepped in to acquire and preserve one of the city's most historic publications. It highlights the ongoing challenges facing local newspapers, but also the potential for innovative models to sustain these vital civic institutions.