USA Today Co. to acquire The Detroit News, Uniting City's Newspapers Under One Roof.
In a move that will reshape the Detroit newspaper market, USA Today Co., the nation's largest newspaper publisher, has entered into an agreement to acquire The Detroit News from MediaNews Group. The deal marks the end of a long-running shared business arrangement between the two publications and will place both papers under the same corporate ownership following the expiration of their joint operating agreement.
The acquisition comes after years of competition and shared operations between USA Today Co., formerly known as Gannett Co., and The Detroit News, which has already acquired the Detroit Free Press. The Detroit partnership was the final remaining joint operating agreement between two U.S. newspapers, a model once common in major metro markets but now largely dismantled.
The ownership change follows the expiration of the joint operating agreement on December 28, 2025, and is expected to close by the end of January, subject to customary closing conditions. MediaNews Group Chief Operating Officer Guy Gilmore said that both companies have a mutual desire to ensure that these publications and their distinct journalism continue to serve the greater Detroit area.
Under the joint operating agreement formed in 1989, MediaNews Group maintained editorial authority over The Detroit News, even as advertising, printing, circulation, and production were handled jointly. However, USA Today Co. said both newspapers will continue to publish separately following the acquisition, maintaining their existing print and digital operations.
The Detroit partnership ranks among the 15 most-visited local news websites in the United States, reflecting their continued digital reach amid industry-wide declines in print advertising. Editorial employees at The Detroit News will be offered positions with USA Today Co. once the deal closes, according to company officials.
USA Today Co., which owns the Detroit Free Press, said the acquisition of The Detroit News is a strategic investment that strengthens its audience and portfolio of over 200 local publications nationwide. Michael Reed, chairman and CEO of USA Today Co., stated that "The acquisition of The Detroit News will be a strategic investment that reinforces our commitment to local journalism in the Detroit metropolitan area."
In a move that will reshape the Detroit newspaper market, USA Today Co., the nation's largest newspaper publisher, has entered into an agreement to acquire The Detroit News from MediaNews Group. The deal marks the end of a long-running shared business arrangement between the two publications and will place both papers under the same corporate ownership following the expiration of their joint operating agreement.
The acquisition comes after years of competition and shared operations between USA Today Co., formerly known as Gannett Co., and The Detroit News, which has already acquired the Detroit Free Press. The Detroit partnership was the final remaining joint operating agreement between two U.S. newspapers, a model once common in major metro markets but now largely dismantled.
The ownership change follows the expiration of the joint operating agreement on December 28, 2025, and is expected to close by the end of January, subject to customary closing conditions. MediaNews Group Chief Operating Officer Guy Gilmore said that both companies have a mutual desire to ensure that these publications and their distinct journalism continue to serve the greater Detroit area.
Under the joint operating agreement formed in 1989, MediaNews Group maintained editorial authority over The Detroit News, even as advertising, printing, circulation, and production were handled jointly. However, USA Today Co. said both newspapers will continue to publish separately following the acquisition, maintaining their existing print and digital operations.
The Detroit partnership ranks among the 15 most-visited local news websites in the United States, reflecting their continued digital reach amid industry-wide declines in print advertising. Editorial employees at The Detroit News will be offered positions with USA Today Co. once the deal closes, according to company officials.
USA Today Co., which owns the Detroit Free Press, said the acquisition of The Detroit News is a strategic investment that strengthens its audience and portfolio of over 200 local publications nationwide. Michael Reed, chairman and CEO of USA Today Co., stated that "The acquisition of The Detroit News will be a strategic investment that reinforces our commitment to local journalism in the Detroit metropolitan area."
they're actually unifying the newspapers under one roof now... it's like they're trying to get back to the old days when news was just, you know, new 
. Gannett Co used to be super big and everyone knew it, but then it changed its name and stuff happened... anyway, I guess this means The Detroit News will have more freedom to do their own thing without all that joint operating agreement nonsense 
. It's cool they're gonna keep publishing separately tho, like we need another reason to love our local news 
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. It's like how everything is just becoming one giant corporate machine now. And what's next? The Detroit Free Press getting sold too? 
This is going to be a real blow to local journalism in the city... or at least, that's what they're trying to spin it as. I'm not buying it 
. It'll probably just mean fewer jobs and less diverse voices being heard. And don't even get me started on the whole "strategic investment" thing... sounds like corporate jargon to me 
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this is such amazing news!!! a newspaper uniting under one roof its like a dream come true 
think about all the awesome stories and journalists being brought together under 1 umbrella 
can't wait to see what they create with all that talent!!! 
at least they're trying to preserve the journalism part tho, fingers crossed the editorial team doesn't lose its spark under all that corporate pressure 
. Now I'm curious to see how this will affect the industry as a whole... might be interesting to watch 
THE FACT THAT THEY'RE GONNA KEEP PUBLISHING SEPARATELY BUT STILL SHARE RESOURCES IS SMART BUSINESS, SO KUDOS TO USA TODAY CO. FOR SEEING THIS THROUGH! 