USA TODAY Co. to acquire The Detroit News as ownership shifts - Detroit Metro Times

USA TODAY Co. to Acquire The Detroit News in Historic Acquisition, Strengthening Network's Presence in the Midwest.

In a move that marks a significant shift in the region's newspaper landscape, USA TODAY Co., the nation's largest newspaper publisher, has entered into an agreement to acquire The Detroit News from MediaNews Group. This acquisition follows the expiration of the joint operating agreement between the two publications on December 28, 2025, and will bring together two iconic brands under a single corporate umbrella.

Under the newly announced deal, USA TODAY Co., formerly known as Gannett Co., will acquire The Detroit News, cementing its position as the sole owner of both The Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press. This move represents a significant milestone in the network's efforts to strengthen its presence in the Midwest, where it operates more than 200 local publications nationwide.

The acquisition is seen as a strategic investment by USA TODAY Co., which aims to enhance its audience reach and portfolio of local publications while reinforcing its commitment to local journalism in Detroit. The deal is expected to close by the end of January, pending customary closing conditions.

The joint operating agreement between MediaNews Group and Gannett Co., which dated back to 1989, had allowed for shared business operations but maintained editorial authority over The Detroit News under MediaNews Group's oversight. With this acquisition, USA TODAY Co. will assume control over both publications, ensuring their continued operational independence while strengthening the network's overall presence in the region.

The acquisition comes at a time when the newspaper industry is undergoing significant changes, with many outlets experiencing declines in print advertising revenue. However, The Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press have demonstrated resilience, maintaining their digital reach amid industry-wide challenges and ranking among the 15 most-visited local news websites in the United States.

Editorial employees at The Detroit News will be offered positions with USA TODAY Co. once the deal closes, according to company officials. The acquisition is also expected to involve a mix of cash and borrowing, with financing arranged by Apollo affiliates.

This move marks an exciting development for local journalism in Detroit, as USA TODAY Co. continues to invest in the region's news scene while ensuring the continued success of its esteemed publications.

idk why usa today is doin this 200+ local pubs is a lot i wonder if they can make it work tho here are some stats from 2022 that might be relevant:

usa today had approx 7.4 million unique digital monthly visitors
the detroit news had around 3.5 million in october 2022
detroit free press had 2.8 million unique digital monthly visitors

these numbers r just rough estimates tho and the market is super competitive now

anyway, this acquisition might be a good move for local journalism in detroit

so yeah i think this acquisition is a pretty big deal for usa today co, but also kinda concerning that they're absorbing another paper under their umbrella meanwhile The Detroit News and Free Press have been doing okay on their own with their digital presence it'll be interesting to see how the editorial team adjusts to reporting under one giant company

omg this is so lit!! USA TODAY Co. just got even stronger and now they own The Detroit News too!!! I'm all about that local journalism life and it's amazing to see them investing in Detroit, especially with the Detroit Free Press being one of the top visited news websites in the US! It's gonna be a whole new level of awesome for Detroit and USA TODAY Co. fans everywhere

OMG u guys!! this is HUGE!! The Detroit News is gonna be part of the USA TODAY network now!! think about it, one of the biggest brands in the US just got even BIGGER! i mean, the Midwest is a HUGE market and having two iconic papers under one umbrella is a GAME CHANGER this means more content, more jobs, and more opportunities for Detroit journalists to shine can't wait to see what the future holds for these publications!!

This acquisition is such a breath of fresh air! I mean, The Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press have been around for ages, and it's amazing that they get to stay under one umbrella now. USA TODAY Co.'s got a good track record when it comes to supporting local journalists, so I'm excited to see what they do with this acquisition. It's also pretty cool that editorial employees will be offered positions with the company - that shows they value their people and want to keep the talent in-house. Plus, it's always awesome when a big player like USA TODAY Co. invests in local media - it's gonna make a real difference for Detroit news fans!

can't believe we're losing another iconic local paper just when you think things are getting better, another big name gets swallowed up by a giant publisher... but at least it's good that they're keeping all the Detroit journalists on board , that's gotta be some comfort for 'em... and who knows, maybe USA TODAY Co. will actually make a difference around here

Wow ! This is so interesting ! The fact that USA TODAY Co. is acquiring The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press means they'll have a stronger presence in the Midwest, which is awesome . And it's cool to see them investing in local journalism in Detroit, especially since the industry is going through some tough times . It's all about preserving the local voices and stories, right?

OMG I'm so stoked about this acquisition it's gonna be super interesting to see how they integrate The Detroit News with their other publications! They're definitely making a big push for local journalism in the Midwest, and I think that's awesome . Plus, it'll be cool to see what kind of design updates we can expect from USA TODAY Co.

man this is a big deal for detroit i think it's awesome that usa today co is stepping up and investing in the local media scene here we go 200+ local pubs across the midwest gonna get a serious boost with this acquisition gotta love that they're offering editorial jobs to detroit news staff too hope this means more quality journalism for the people of detroit and beyond

I'm not sure about this acquisition, you know? I mean, USA TODAY Co. is a big player already, and now they're gobbling up another iconic brand like The Detroit News. It feels like it could get lost in the shuffle, you know? I've always loved reading The Detroit News, especially when it comes to local sports and news, but if they're all going to be under one umbrella...

I do think it's a good move for USA TODAY Co., though. They must see something in The Detroit News that makes them think it'll help their own brand out. And hey, at least the editorial employees will get some stability with USA TODAY Co., right?

Still, as a reader, I hope they don't just start churning out national news and forgetting about local stuff. That's what made The Detroit News so great in the first place... its unique perspective on the city and its community!

I wonder why they had to buy The Detroit News if it was already doing pretty well on its own... I mean, I know the industry is struggling and all that, but doesn't this just mean we'll be seeing less local stories from there? It's good that they're gonna offer jobs to the editorial people though, so that's a plus. But what about The Detroit Free Press? Are they gonna keep their independence too? Or will they be part of the USA TODAY Co. crew now?

man, it's crazy to think that another iconic newspaper is joining the USA TODAY family they're basically giving The Detroit News a new lease on life and I gotta say, it's kinda sad that the industry is still struggling but at least we'll get more solid journalism coming out of the Midwest meanwhile, I'm low-key hyped for the editorial team to join forces with USA TODAY Co. hopefully they can bring some fresh perspectives to the table

just heard about this huge acquisition and i gotta say its gonna be super interesting to see how USA TODAY Co. will manage the Detroit News and the Free Press under one roof! they're definitely trying to make a stronger presence in the Midwest with over 200 local pubs, but i'm curious to know how they'll balance their brand identities while still maintaining editorial independence maybe it's time for them to shake things up and create some fresh content?

I just got back from the most random road trip and I'm still thinking about it... so yeah, this acquisition thingy is cool and all, but have you ever tried those new matcha-flavored lattes at Starbucks? I mean, they're okay, but I think they overdo it on the green tea flavor. Anyway, back to Detroit News... nice to see a major player like USA TODAY Co. getting involved in local journalism. You know what's crazy though? The new Marvel movie came out last week and I still haven't had a chance to watch it . Guess that means my weekend plans just got pushed up the priority list .

I just read about this huge deal between USA TODAY Co. and The Detroit News . Its kinda sad that they're losing their independence, but on the other hand, I think it'll be great for local journalism in Detroit. I've got a lot of respect for those guys at The Detroit News, they've been doing a fantastic job keeping the people of Detroit informed. With USA TODAY Co.'s resources and expertise, I'm sure they'll do even more amazing things . It's not all doom and gloom, this acquisition might just be the shot in the arm that local newspapers need to stay relevant .

im so excited about this acquisition , it's gonna be awesome to see The Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press under one roof , i mean think about it, they're already doin great on their own, but with USA TODAY Co.'s backing, they'll be able to reach an even wider audience , plus it's cool that editorial employees will get to join the team, that's some awesome job security , can't wait to see how this all plays out

omg this is such amazing news!!! can't wait to see what The Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press come up with under USA TODAY Co.'s umbrella i'm all about supporting local journalism in detroit, they're doing a great job keeping it real and independent gotta love that editorial team getting offered spots at USA TODAY Co.

I gotta say, this acquisition is a big deal... but I'm not sure if it's all good for the community . Think about it, two big brands under one umbrella - that just sounds like more consolidation to me. What happens to local voices and perspectives? Are we gonna lose some of that unique Detroit flavor with everything being homogenized? And what about the journalists who are gonna be working for USA TODAY Co.? Will they still have the freedom to report on the things that matter most to Detroits' residents, or will they be pressured to focus on more 'mainstream' stories?

omg i just saw that new pizza place downtown is giving away free slices on tuesdays now can we talk about how much better pizza is than newspaper reading for like an hour straight lol meanwhile this acquisition thingy yeah cool i guess but have you seen those new shoes they're like so comfy idk what's the deal with usa today co acquiring detroit news tho