\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThe Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has a new owner. The Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism and the Post-Gazette’s soon-to-be former owner, Block Communications, Inc., announced that an agreement has been reached. \u201cThe intention with the purchase is to make sure that a great newspaper that\u2019s 240 years old didn\u2019t go out of business,\u201d Venetoulis Institute of Local Journalism CEO Bob Cohn said. \u201cIt is such a storied newspaper. We wouldn\u2019t be making this acquisition if we weren\u2019t impressed with the work of the newsroom. Especially in recent years over fairly trying circumstances.\u201dVenetoulis, a Maryland-based nonprofit, is expected to take over the paper on May 4. In January, before the deal was reached, Block Communications announced the last edition was slated for May 3. \u201cFor nearly a century, the Block family has been dedicated to public service in Pittsburgh,\u201d Stewart Bainum Jr., founder of the Venetoulis Institute, said. \u201cWe are honored that they trust us to continue this work.\u201d\u201cThe Block family deserves a lot of credit,\u201d Wischnowski said. \u201cThey took their time and was deliberate in finding a caretaker. This is a new lease on life. We carried a heavy burden for nearly 100 days.\u201d\u201cThe Block family has worked to find the best possible source for responsible local journalism for the Pittsburgh region and we believe we have succeeded,\u201d Chairperson of Block Communications Karen Johnese said.Venetoulis operates The Baltimore Banner, which was founded in 2022. Under Venetoulis’ ownership, the Post-Gazette’s newsroom and local business leadership will remain in Pittsburgh.\u201cIt seems like they have the same kind of standards,\u201d Post-Gazette columnist and sports enterprise reporter Noah Hiles said. \u201cIt seems like they know how to do journalism in the modern age. I think this is going to be a net positive long-term for the Post-Gazette.\u201dTechnology and business operations will be combined with Venetoulis Institute teams. \u201cLocal journalism is essential to a strong community, but across the country the business model has been under severe strain,\u201d Bainum said. \u201cWe believe there is a path forward \u2014 one that combines great journalism with a diversified business model built on scale and exceptional talent.\u201d\u201cEngage constructively, we want to listen carefully, and we believe in treating all employees with respect and dignity,\u201d Cohn said. \u201cIf the employees inside the newsroom want to be represented by a union, we will absolutely work with that. We have no intention of walking away from print so long as it\u2019s something that readers want.\u201dAfter Block Communications cited $350 million in losses as the reason for the PG\u2019s closing, Venetoulis officials will spend the next few weeks figuring out what staffing will look like. \u201cI think it\u2019s pretty clear that the revenues of the Post-Gazette don\u2019t support the size of the operation,\u201d Cohn said. \u201cThat\u2019s something we\u2019ll need to thoughtfully consider. Over the next few weeks, we\u2019ll be putting together that plan. We will come back in and seek to hire many of them to build the new Post-Gazette.\u201dDavid Shribman, an editor for the Post-Gazette from 2003 to 2019, will join the Venetoulis Board of Directors. The Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism is named for Ted Venetoulis, a Maryland civic leader and former Baltimore County executive.\u201cStability is tough to find in this field,\u201d Hiles said. \u201cThe relief to not only know that might be on the way but also that people care about you is awesome. I think a lot of us are at least happy to have a chance to have a job and that the city will have a paper of record to cover the news.\u201d\u201cWe\u2019ve got big challenges ahead, but the fact of the matter is that the Post-Gazette lives on,\u201d Wischnowski said.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\tPITTSBURGH \u2014 \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has a new owner. <\/p>\n
The Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism and the Post-Gazette’s soon-to-be former owner, Block Communications, Inc., announced that an agreement has been reached. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe intention with the purchase is to make sure that a great newspaper that\u2019s 240 years old didn\u2019t go out of business,\u201d Venetoulis Institute of Local Journalism CEO Bob Cohn said. \u201cIt is such a storied newspaper. We wouldn\u2019t be making this acquisition if we weren\u2019t impressed with the work of the newsroom. Especially in recent years over fairly trying circumstances.\u201d<\/p>\n