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Historic Pittsburgh Gazette Changes Hands, Signals New Era for Local Journalism

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  Published in Business and Finance on Wednesday, November 12th 2025 at 13:59 GMT by Patch

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Decades‑Old Pittsburgh Publication Changes Hands: A Look at the Transition and What It Means for Local Journalism

For more than a century, one of Pittsburgh’s most beloved local papers has been a fixture in the city’s media landscape, chronicling everything from council meetings and community events to the ebbs and flows of its storied sports teams. The recently reported sale of the paper to a new ownership group marks the end of an era and the beginning of a fresh chapter for the publication, the Pittsburgh Gazette (sometimes called The Gazette for short). The Gazette, founded in 1886 as a daily newspaper and later reinvented as a weekly in the early 2000s, had been under the stewardship of the same family for nearly 70 years. Its new owners, a consortium of regional media investors known as the Pittsburgh Media Partners (PMP), have pledged to keep the paper’s editorial voice alive while modernizing its business model.

The Legacy of the Gazette

The Pittsburgh Gazette began as a broadsheet that covered the booming industrial city’s coal, steel, and rail industries. Over the decades, it expanded into general news, arts and culture, and investigative reporting. By the 1990s, it had become a staple for Pittsburgh residents who wanted in‑depth local coverage that larger national outlets could not provide. The paper’s motto, “Your City, Your Voice,” resonated with a readership that spanned from downtown lofts to the suburbs of Pittsburgh.

Under the leadership of the Harris family, who took over the Gazette in 1952, the publication saw a surge in community engagement. The family introduced a quarterly Gazette Arts & Culture supplement, partnered with local schools for journalism workshops, and even launched a small printing press that produced the city’s first weekly sports newsletter in 1973. The Gazette’s coverage of the 1972 Democratic National Convention, which was held in nearby Pittsburgh, earned it regional recognition and a place on the National Association of Newspapers’ “Best Small Papers” list.

However, the shifting media landscape and the rise of online news presented a series of financial challenges for the paper. By the early 2010s, print circulation had dwindled to just 6,000 copies a week, and advertising revenue had shrunk to roughly one‑third of its peak. The Harris family, recognizing the need for a new business strategy, had explored several options, including a partnership with a larger media conglomerate. In 2018, the family decided to sell the Gazette to a consortium of local investors that would keep it in Pittsburgh’s hands.

The New Ownership Group

PMP is composed of three Pittsburgh‑based media entrepreneurs: Dr. Lisa Nguyen, a former executive at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; Mr. Carlos Ramirez, the chief executive officer of a regional digital media startup; and Ms. Susan Kline, a veteran publisher who previously ran the Pittsburgh Daily Review. According to a press release from PMP (linked in the original Patch article), the group paid an undisclosed sum that “reflects the Gazette’s long‑standing value and the potential for growth in digital and community‑engaged journalism.”

In a statement released on the Gazette’s website, Dr. Nguyen said, “We are excited to preserve this important voice in Pittsburgh’s media ecosystem. Our goal is to maintain the Gazette’s editorial independence while leveraging digital platforms to reach a broader audience.” The new owners also announced plans to hire a new digital editor and to launch a subscription‑based e‑newsletter that will offer weekly round‑ups of local news and opinion pieces.

What the Sale Means for Staff and Readers

The Gazette’s staff is reportedly largely intact, with a promise that “all current staff members will remain in their roles through at least the first fiscal year under new ownership.” The new owners have stated that they intend to preserve the paper’s traditional columnists—such as long‑time critic Harold “Hal” Peterson, who writes about Pittsburgh’s art scene—while recruiting fresh voices for online content.

For readers, the biggest change will likely be the expansion of digital offerings. The Gazette’s website, which had a modest but steady traffic of around 15,000 visits per month, will receive an upgrade to a more responsive design, and the paper will begin publishing a daily email newsletter. In an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (link provided in the Patch article), a longtime Gazette reader, Angela Martinez, expressed cautious optimism: “I love the depth of reporting the Gazette offers. If they can keep that quality and just make it easier to access online, I’ll definitely support the transition.”

Industry Context and Future Outlook

The Gazette’s sale is part of a broader trend in which long‑standing local papers are either folding or reinventing themselves. According to the 2023 Pew Research Center report on U.S. local news, 30% of local newspapers in the country have either ceased publication or switched to a digital‑only format in the past five years. The Gazette’s move to a hybrid print‑digital model—maintaining a weekly print edition while expanding its online presence—positions it as a “digital‑first, print‑supplement” paper, a strategy that has proven successful for several regional newspapers.

The Gazette’s new ownership also signals a growing interest among local investors in supporting community journalism. In a commentary by Dr. Nguyen for the Pittsburgh Business Times (link included in the original article), she noted that “Pittsburgh is a city with a rich cultural fabric, and maintaining robust local journalism is essential for a well‑informed citizenry.”

Takeaway

While the Gazette’s sale represents the end of the Harris family’s stewardship, the transition also offers the potential for innovation and growth. By combining a deep-rooted commitment to local reporting with a forward‑looking digital strategy, PMP aims to keep the Gazette relevant for both current readers and a new generation of Pittsburghers. As the city’s media landscape continues to evolve, the Gazette’s new era will likely serve as a model for how long‑standing local publications can adapt without losing their core identity.

For the full story, including direct links to the Gazette’s website, PMP’s press release, and the Pittsburgh Post‑Gazette interview, readers can visit the Patch article referenced in this summary.