The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, one of the oldest newspapers in the United States, announced Wednesday that it will publish its final edition on May 3, 2026, and cease all operations thereafter. This marks the end of a publication with roots tracing back to 1786, when The Pittsburgh Gazette became the first newspaper published west of the Allegheny Mountains.
Key Details from the Announcement
Owner Block Communications, Inc. (a family-owned company based in Toledo, Ohio) cited two primary reasons for the closure:
Financial losses — The company stated it has lost more than $350 million in cash operating the paper over the past 20 years, describing continued losses as "no longer sustainable" amid broader challenges in local journalism (e.g., declining print advertising and digital revenue shifts).
Labor disputes — Recent court rulings, including a U.S. Supreme Court denial of a stay, required the paper to reinstate terms from a 2014–2017 union contract. The company called these terms "outdated and inflexible" for modern operations. This follows a protracted dispute with the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, including a three-year strike that ended in November 2025 when journalists returned to work.
Labor disputes — Recent court rulings, including a U.S. Supreme Court denial of a stay, required the paper to reinstate terms from a 2014–2017 union contract. The company called these terms "outdated and inflexible" for modern operations. This follows a protracted dispute with the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, including a three-year strike that ended in November 2025 when journalists returned to work.
The announcement came via a press release and a pre-recorded company message to staff. Block Communications expressed regret over the impact on the Pittsburgh region and noted pride in the paper's nearly century-long service under their ownership (since 1927). The closure will not affect their other daily newspaper, The Toledo Blade.
KDKA Radio has obtained a video sent to us of the recorded Zoom meeting for Post-Gazette employees, announcing the ending of operations for the 240-year-old newspaper. pic.twitter.com/9hVhSn2Ntt
— 100.1 FM and AM 1020 KDKA (@KDKARadio) January 7, 2026
Union and Community Reactions
The Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh criticized the decision, with president Andrew Goldstein stating that owners "chose to punish local journalists and the city" rather than comply with labor laws. Union leaders emphasized the paper's award-winning journalism and vowed to explore options for sustaining high-quality local reporting.
Local officials and media experts highlighted concerns about a growing "news desert" in the Pittsburgh metro area (population over 2 million), potentially leaving it as one of the largest U.S. urban regions without a legacy daily newspaper.
This follows Block Communications' recent shutdown of the alternative weekly Pittsburgh City Paper at the end of 2025.