USA TODAY Co. moves to buy The Detroit News after joint-operating era ends

USA TODAY Co., Inc. announced Jan. 26 that it plans to grow its web of much than 200 newspapers by acquiring The Detroit News, strengthening its foothold successful the Motor City.

USA TODAY Co. owns the Detroit Free Press, 1 of the nation’s longest‑operating regular newspapers and the company’s largest section publication. The Free Press has competed editorially with The Detroit News for 153 years.

Since 1989, USA TODAY Co., formerly Gannett Co., has overseen the Free Press’s concern operations and, done a associated operating agreement, managed advertising, circulation and accumulation for The Detroit News, whose owner, MediaNews Group, retained afloat editorial control.

That associated operating statement ended Dec. 28, 2025.

On Jan. 26, the 2 media companies executed a binding Letter of Intent for USA TODAY Co. to get The Detroit News.

USA TODAY Co. volition support The Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press arsenic abstracted products with chiseled voices, said Michael Reed, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of USA TODAY Co.

“The acquisition of The Detroit News volition beryllium a strategical concern that strengthens the USA TODAY Network’s assemblage and its portfolio of much than 200 section publications nationwide and reinforces our committedness to section journalism successful the Detroit metropolitan area,” Reed said.

Company officials said readers tin expect continued transportation of trusted, high-quality quality and contented – some successful people and integer – from The Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press.

The transaction is anticipated to adjacent astatine the extremity of January, and institution officials said woody presumption volition not beryllium disclosed.

The Free Press and Detroit News were ranked among the apical 15 most-visited U.S. section quality websites, according to a June 2025 study from NiemanLab.

“We are pleased to scope this statement with USA TODAY Co. present that the Joint Operations Agreement has expired aft decades of palmy operations," said Guy Gilmore, COO MediaNews Group. "Both companies person a communal tendency to guarantee that these publications and their chiseled journalism proceed to service the greater Detroit area.”

The companies did not accidental wherefore The Detroit News was offered for sale. But MediaNews Group, owned by hedge money Alden Global Capital, has steadily reduced its paper holdings successful caller years amid continued unit connected people advertizing revenue.

“Welcoming The Detroit News afloat to our web volition alteration the continued transportation of trusted, high-quality quality and contented to our audiences and advertisers successful the region,” Reed said.

USA TODAY Co. officials said editorial employees astatine The Detroit News, who volition nary longer enactment for MediaNews Group erstwhile the woody closes, volition beryllium offered jobs astatine USA TODAY Co.