Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Finds Buyer to Stay Open

Nonprofit journalism group Venetoulis Institute to acquire struggling newspaper and continue operations.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 6:34pm

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A minimalist studio still life photograph featuring a stack of newspapers, a pen, and a pair of reading glasses arranged on a clean, white background, symbolizing the importance of local journalism and the challenges facing the newspaper industry.The acquisition of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette by a nonprofit journalism group offers a glimmer of hope for the future of local news in the city.Today in Pittsburgh

The owners of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette announced they have found a buyer, the Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism, to acquire the newspaper's assets and keep it operating. The Post-Gazette was set to shut down on May 3 before the last-minute deal was reached. The Venetoulis Institute, which publishes the digital Baltimore Banner, plans to continue printing the Post-Gazette twice a week and maintain its website.

Why it matters

The closure of the Post-Gazette would have left Pittsburgh, the second-largest city in Pennsylvania, without a major city-based newspaper, a concerning development for the health of local journalism and civic engagement. The sale to a nonprofit organization focused on community-centered reporting offers hope that the Post-Gazette can be revitalized and remain an important source of news and information for the region.

The details

Under the deal, the Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism will acquire the Post-Gazette's assets and continue operating the newspaper. The new owners plan to print the Post-Gazette on Thursdays and Sundays, while maintaining a website on the other days. Financial terms of the sale were not disclosed. The Post-Gazette had been set to shut down on May 3 before the last-minute agreement was reached.

  • The Post-Gazette was set to shut down on May 3, 2026.
  • The sale to the Venetoulis Institute was announced on April 14, 2026, less than a month before the planned closure.

The players

Block Communications

The previous owners of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism

A nonprofit journalism organization that publishes the digital Baltimore Banner and has agreed to acquire the assets of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to keep the newspaper operating.

David Shribman

Former executive editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from 2003 to 2019, who has been appointed to the board of directors of the Venetoulis Institute.

Steve Mellon

A longtime photographer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette who expressed concerns about the newspaper's future under new ownership.

Jennifer Bertetto

CEO of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, a rival newspaper that had planned to expand into Pittsburgh following the Post-Gazette's closure.

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What they’re saying

“For us to be a vibrant, strong city, as we are, it's imperative that we have a newspaper that demonstrates that.”

— Jay Costa, Top-ranking Democrat in the Pennsylvania state Senate

“We are committed to working with exceptional journalists, along with civic and business leaders across the region, to build a new future for local journalism in Western Pennsylvania.”

— Bob Cohn, CEO of the Venetoulis Institute

“I'm more hopeful now for the future of the Post-Gazette than I was yesterday.”

— Steve Mellon, Longtime photographer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

What’s next

The Venetoulis Institute plans to continue printing the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette twice a week and maintain its website, with the goal of revitalizing the newspaper and strengthening local journalism in the region. The institute has also appointed former Post-Gazette executive editor David Shribman to its board of directors.

The takeaway

The sale of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to a nonprofit journalism organization offers a glimmer of hope for the future of local news in the city, as well as a challenge to the community to support independent, community-focused reporting. The transition represents an opportunity to reinvigorate the newspaper and ensure residents have access to the information they need to stay engaged and informed.