The Pittsburgh City Paper has ceased operations after 34 years in print.
The closure was first disclosed on social media Wednesday by employees who had been informed this week of the decision to shutter the city’s leading weekly alternative.
“This is a loss for us, but it’s a bigger loss for Pittsburgh readers,” posted City Paper editor Colin Williams on Bluesky. “This city deserves better.”
Block Communications, Inc., which owns the City Paper through its subsidiary Cars Holding, Inc., has since confirmed the decision to shut down the paper.
“Today, Block Communications announced the closure of the Pittsburgh City Paper, an entity that it has been proud to own and support for the past three years,” said representatives from BCI in a statement issued Wednesday. “This difficult decision is a result of the economic realities facing news organizations, not a reflection of the quality of the journalism or the dedication of the City Paper’s staff.”
BCI is also the owner of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
BCI, through its subsidiary, acquired the City Paper from the owner of the Butler Eagle, Eagle Media, in 2023.
“We believe in the need for independent journalism and are happy to further our commitment to the city of Pittsburgh and, specifically, to support this well-established entertainment and alternative news publication,” said Allan Block, the chairman and CEO of Block, in a press release at the time of the purchase.
The Pittsburgh City Paper had been in print since Nov. 6, 1991, according to the publication’s website.