The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette will continue operating beyond its previously planned May shutdown. The paper announced a deal with a nonprofit media group to assume ownership. Block Communications has agreed to sell the longtime newspaper to the Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism. A Maryland-based nonprofit that also runs the Baltimore Banner.
The transaction is expected to close May 4, though financial terms were not disclosed.
The agreement keeps one of Pittsburgh’s most recognizable media brands alive while signaling a shift in how it will operate moving forward. Under the new structure, the publication will continue covering Western Pennsylvania with its newsroom and business leadership remaining in Pittsburgh. Some operational areas, including technology, will be integrated with the institute’s existing infrastructure.
Plans call for maintaining the paper’s current Thursday and Sunday print editions, while continuing to expand its digital presence. The nonprofit model arrives with significant financial support. Baltimore Banner founder Stewart Bainum Jr. initially seeded the institute with $50 million and is expected to contribute an additional $30 million over the next five years tied to the acquisition.
Tracey DeAngelo, Post-Gazette president and general manager, said the Block family had ensured the future of journalism in Pittsburgh.
“The Block family’s approach in selecting the Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism reflects a forward-looking perspective on the future of the Post-Gazette,” she said in a prepared statement. “Their work in Baltimore has earned deep respect, and the quality of journalism they have built in a relatively short time makes them a thoughtful and capable steward of this legacy.”
Still, questions remain about the paper’s future structure. The size of the newsroom under the new model is uncertain. While existing financial obligations tied to the labor dispute have yet to be clarified.
Union leadership also welcomed the transition while seeking clarity on next steps. Andrew Goldstein, president of the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, said he hopes to establish a more productive relationship with the incoming ownership group.
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