Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Sold to Nonprofit Media Organization

The 237-year-old newspaper will continue operations under new ownership.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 4:33pm

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a stack of old newspapers, a vintage typewriter, and a single red rose, all arranged elegantly on a clean, monochromatic seamless background, conceptually representing the past, present, and future of local journalism.The sale of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to a nonprofit media organization signals a new chapter for local journalism, blending tradition with innovation.Today in Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, one of the oldest continuously published newspapers in the United States, has been sold by its previous owner, Block Communications, to the Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism, a nonprofit media organization based in Baltimore. The sale comes after Block Communications announced plans to close the paper in January, citing unsustainable financial losses over the past two decades.

Why it matters

The sale of the Post-Gazette to a nonprofit organization is part of a growing trend across the country, as traditional media business models have struggled to remain viable. Nonprofits have stepped in to take over newspapers, with the goal of preserving local journalism and serving their communities. This move aims to secure the future of the Post-Gazette, which has been a vital source of news and information for western Pennsylvania for over two centuries.

The details

Under the new agreement, the Post-Gazette will continue to serve the Pittsburgh region, with the newsroom and local leadership remaining based in the city. However, some business operations will be combined with the Venetoulis Institute. The sale comes after a three-year strike by the union representing the paper's journalists, which was resolved by a court ruling in the union's favor, and was cited by Block Communications as another factor in the decision to close the paper.

  • Block Communications announced plans to close the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in January 2026.
  • The sale to the Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism was announced on April 14, 2026.
  • The transaction is expected to take effect on May 4, 2026, a day after the paper was supposed to shut down.

The players

Block Communications

The previous owner of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, which announced plans to close the paper in January 2026 due to unsustainable financial losses.

Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism

A nonprofit media organization based in Baltimore that has purchased the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, with the goal of preserving local journalism and serving the Pittsburgh community.

Stewart Bainum Jr.

The hotel magnate who heads the Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism and believes in a nonprofit model to save newspapers.

Karen Johnese

The chairperson of Block Communications, who expressed excitement about handing the Post-Gazette over to the Venetoulis Institute.

Paul Zeise

A sports writer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, who expressed relief and optimism about the paper's future under the new ownership.

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What they’re saying

“Local journalism is essential to a strong community, but across the country the business model has been under severe strain. We believe there is a path forward — one that combines great journalism with a diversified business model built on scale and exceptional talent.”

— Stewart Bainum Jr., Head of the Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism

“The Block family has worked to find the best possible source for responsible local journalism for the Pittsburgh region and we believe we have succeeded. We are excited to hand our treasured paper over to such a committed and creative organization. We trust in their integrity and care for our community.”

— Karen Johnese, Chairperson of Block Communications

“It's good news. The Post-Gazette has been around for how many years? It's good that it's going to go on. It sounds like they were really thoughtful about who they sold it to, you know what I mean? Now we just got to see what it looks like on May 4, but it sounds like it's a really good ownership group in terms of they care about journalism.”

— Paul Zeise, Sports writer, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

What’s next

The transaction is expected to take effect on May 4, 2026, when the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette will officially come under the ownership of the Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism.

The takeaway

The sale of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to a nonprofit organization represents a promising model for preserving local journalism in the face of financial challenges facing traditional media. By prioritizing community-focused reporting over profits, the Venetoulis Institute aims to ensure the 237-year-old newspaper continues to serve as a vital source of news and information for western Pennsylvania.