Investor group seeks to make Post-Gazette nonprofit
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Post-Gazette building on the city's North Shore. Photo: Raymond Boyd/Getty Images
The Post-Gazette is attracting some potential saviors.
Why it matters: Pittsburgh's oldest and largest newspaper recently announced it would shut down in May after a yearslong labor dispute, leading to concerns about the region's journalism landscape.
Driving the news: Kevin Acklin, the former president of business of the Pittsburgh Penguins and chief of staff under former Mayor Bill Peduto, tells Axios he is assembling a team of investors to attempt to preserve the Post-Gazette by converting it into a nonprofit.
- He said he had a "good opening conversation" about the prospect with Allan Block, CEO of Block Communications, which owns the Post-Gazette.
- "We feel strongly that converting to a nonprofit is a very attractive alternative to shutting down the Post-Gazette," he tells Axios. "I am hopeful he and the rest of the present ownership group recognize the importance of the paper to the ongoing vitality of our city and see the value of engaging."
The Post-Gazette didn't immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.
The big picture: Block Communications said earlier this month that the paper has lost more than $350 million over the past 20 years.
Between the lines: Other large papers across the country, including the Philadelphia Inquirer, have converted to a nonprofit model.
- Stan Wischnowski, executive editor at the Post-Gazette, was the former executive editor at the Inquirer as it transitioned.
State of play: In a letter sent to Block on Thursday, as reported by KDKA Radio, Acklin wrote he has spoken to several business leaders and investors committed to helping keep the Post-Gazette alive. Acklin said he would share developments as they unfold.
- The Post-Gazette's last day is scheduled for May 3.
Catch up quick: About two dozen Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh journalists returned in November after a three-year unfair labor practice strike.
- Soon after the strikers returned, Block Communications lost its appeal of a court ruling that ordered the company to reinstate the terms of a prior union contract and resume negotiations, which the U.S. Supreme Court upheld.
Friction point: As newsroom employees weigh the future of the Post-Gazette, about 50 PG journalists who did not strike or were hired during the strike on Thursday called for a new election of the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh's leadership, reflecting lingering internal discord.
- The group said they've been misrepresented by the NewsGuild for years and want a more "constructive" relationship with Block Communications or any future owner, along with a more "realistic" approach to bargaining.
- They said saving the newspaper should take precedence over launching a new venture, and urged the Block family to preserve it through a sale or by delaying its planned closure.
The other side: In a statement, the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh said its members have worked closely with non-striking coworkers to chart a path forward for the paper, including urging the company to reconsider its closure and exploring alternatives to a Block-owned Post-Gazette.
- "We remain committed to working with any and all serious parties invested in local journalism that serves the needs of working-class people in the region," the NewsGuild said.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with details on the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh.