Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to Close Due to Financial Issues

The owners of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette announced on Wednesday that the newspaper will cease publication in the coming months, attributing the decision to ongoing financial struggles.

Block Communications Co., Ltd. has confirmed that the final edition will be published on May 3rd. The Post-Gazette, which traditionally releases issues on Thursdays and Sundays, has an average paid circulation of around 83,000 according to its website.

This announcement comes after a challenging period for the paper. In November, many union members returned to work following a lengthy three-year strike. Notably, more than five years prior, negotiations with the Pittsburgh Newspaper Union had reached a standstill, leading the company to impose new employment conditions unilaterally.

Investigations later revealed that the newspaper had engaged in what could be termed malicious or bad-faith negotiations. Offers made during this time were reportedly never intended to facilitate a resolution and the company prematurely declared an impasse.

Ironically, the closure announcement coincided with a ruling from the US Supreme Court, which rejected an emergency appeal that aimed to block a National Labor Relations Board order. This order had mandated PG Publishing Co. Inc. to adhere to health insurance policies tied to an expired union contract.

Andrew Goldstein, president of the Pittsburgh Newspaper Guild, commented on the legacy of the paper’s reporters, who have enjoyed long, award-winning careers.

Goldstein criticized the owners for their approach, stating, “Instead of simply following the law, the owners chose to punish local journalists and the city of Pittsburgh.” He noted that employees learned of the decision during a Zoom call, where company officials were not present for a live discussion.

Block Communications described the financial situation as dire, stating they had incurred hundreds of millions in losses over two decades. The company indicated that continuing to operate under such financial strains was no longer viable.

“We are proud of the service the Post-Gazette has provided Pittsburghers for nearly a century,” the Block family said in their statement.

The roots of the paper stretch back to 1786, when it began as a four-page weekly magazine known as the Pittsburgh Gazette. It played a significant role as an advocate for abolition during the 19th century and underwent several changes in ownership and branding before becoming the Post-Gazette in 1927, under Paul Brock’s acquisition.