USA TODAY Co. to Take the Reins of Detroit's News Scene in Major Shift for Local Journalism.
The largest newspaper publisher in the US, USA TODAY Co., has inked a deal to acquire The Detroit News from MediaNews Group, marking a significant turning point for local journalism in the Motor City. With this acquisition, The Detroit News will be part of a larger entity, shifting away from its long-standing joint operations arrangement with the Detroit Free Press.
The partnership between The Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press has been in place since 1989, allowing MediaNews Group to maintain editorial control over The Detroit News while sharing business operations. However, as the industry landscape continues to evolve, this unique model is largely being dismantled.
According to Guy Gilmore, Chief Operating Officer of MediaNews Group, the joint operating structure's conclusion led to the agreement with USA TODAY Co. Both parties expressed a desire to ensure that these publications and their distinct journalism continue to serve the Detroit area.
Despite the acquisition, both newspapers will maintain their editorial independence, publishing separately under USA TODAY Co.'s oversight. This strategic investment is expected to strengthen the network's audience and portfolio of local publications nationwide.
The two publications have rich histories – The Detroit News was founded in 1873 and has won three Pulitzer Prizes, while the Detroit Free Press was established in 1837 and boasts an impressive ten Pulitzers. Both newspapers will continue to operate continuously for over a century.
As USA TODAY Co. continues to shape the news landscape, it's essential to note that digital reach remains crucial. The two outlets rank among the top 15 most-visited local news websites in the United States, according to a recent report from NiemanLab.
Financial details of the deal have been kept under wraps, but it is expected to be funded through a mix of cash and borrowing, with financing arranged by Apollo affiliates. To address staffing concerns, editorial employees at The Detroit News will be offered positions with USA TODAY Co. upon completion of the acquisition.
The future of local journalism in Detroit now lies with USA TODAY Co., as it takes the reins of two iconic publications and seeks to shape their editorial direction while preserving their unique voices.
The largest newspaper publisher in the US, USA TODAY Co., has inked a deal to acquire The Detroit News from MediaNews Group, marking a significant turning point for local journalism in the Motor City. With this acquisition, The Detroit News will be part of a larger entity, shifting away from its long-standing joint operations arrangement with the Detroit Free Press.
The partnership between The Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press has been in place since 1989, allowing MediaNews Group to maintain editorial control over The Detroit News while sharing business operations. However, as the industry landscape continues to evolve, this unique model is largely being dismantled.
According to Guy Gilmore, Chief Operating Officer of MediaNews Group, the joint operating structure's conclusion led to the agreement with USA TODAY Co. Both parties expressed a desire to ensure that these publications and their distinct journalism continue to serve the Detroit area.
Despite the acquisition, both newspapers will maintain their editorial independence, publishing separately under USA TODAY Co.'s oversight. This strategic investment is expected to strengthen the network's audience and portfolio of local publications nationwide.
The two publications have rich histories – The Detroit News was founded in 1873 and has won three Pulitzer Prizes, while the Detroit Free Press was established in 1837 and boasts an impressive ten Pulitzers. Both newspapers will continue to operate continuously for over a century.
As USA TODAY Co. continues to shape the news landscape, it's essential to note that digital reach remains crucial. The two outlets rank among the top 15 most-visited local news websites in the United States, according to a recent report from NiemanLab.
Financial details of the deal have been kept under wraps, but it is expected to be funded through a mix of cash and borrowing, with financing arranged by Apollo affiliates. To address staffing concerns, editorial employees at The Detroit News will be offered positions with USA TODAY Co. upon completion of the acquisition.
The future of local journalism in Detroit now lies with USA TODAY Co., as it takes the reins of two iconic publications and seeks to shape their editorial direction while preserving their unique voices.
... i think its good they're getting some new blood in here, hopefully it'll help them stay relevant in the digital age 
... can't wait to see how they'll balance editorial independence with being part of a larger network 
... i do hope they don't lose that local feel that makes these papers so special 
... think its great for local journalism overall though, we need more outlets like this 
... wish them all the best on this new chapter 
, i think it's a good thing for detroit's news scene... usa today co is gonna bring some fresh eyes & resources to the table 
, maybe they can help revitalize those old newspapers 
, and who cares if they're part of a bigger entity? thats just business talk 
, what matters is that the papers are still gonna be publishing independently & serving the community 
this is gonna be interesting, USA TODAY Co's got some big shoes to fill with The Detroit News and the Free Press under its umbrella 
i'm curious to see how they'll balance preserving local voices with a bigger media org... and what that means for their digital presence in the long run 
and it's all about unity 
now usa today co's got the reins 
and i'm hyped to see how they're gonna shape up these iconic pubs 
but seriously tho 
or just a new chapter 
gotta support our dear detroit news and free press 
hopefully they don't lose that unique voice and spirit that made detroit news and free press iconic 
.
they're gonna try to make them more digital-friendly i guess, but what about the editorial direction? will it still be all about telling the stories of the people who live in detroit or just another big corporation trying to make some cash 
. I mean, can they really maintain their separate identities and editorial vibes? Plus, what's up with the joint op arrangement ending? Is it 'cause they couldn't make it work anymore or did MediaNews Group just decide to sell out? Either way, I hope these two historic papers keep doing their thing and not get co-opted by some corporate machine 
.
I'm thinking, what's next for these papers? They've been around for ages 
, won all those Pulitzers... I hope they don't lose that community feel or become just another faceless outlet 
. USA TODAY Co.'s got some big shoes to fill, especially with all the changes in journalism these days 
. Still, a major player like them should be able to bring some fresh ideas and resources to the table 
. How's gonna impact local reporting tho? 
the history behind detroit news & free press is wild tho, 1873 & 1837 respectively? that's crazy old 
can't wait to see what they do next 
i mean think about it, USA TODAY Co is literally taking over 2 of the most iconic newspapers in Detroit and now they get to shine!!! 
. The idea that two historic papers like The Detroit News and Free Press will be under one umbrella kinda worries me tho 
! i mean, having usa today co take over the reins is a major investment in local journalism, and it's awesome that both papers will still have editorial independence 
.
!
. and yeah, both papers will still publish separately, which is cool i guess, but it'll be interesting to see how usa today co. shapes their editorial direction... maybe they'll even bring some of that usa today magic to detroit