Gazette’s closure exposes a growing threat to democracy
The Conversation••nation
Key Points:
- The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, founded in 1786 and a key local newspaper for nearly a century, will cease operations on May 3, 2026, due to significant financial losses and recent labor disputes.
- Block Communications, the paper’s owner, reported hundreds of millions in losses over the past 20 years; the closure follows a three-year strike and unfavorable court rulings requiring the paper to restore union health benefits.
- Media expert Victor Pickard emphasized that the closure reflects broader structural challenges facing local newspapers nationwide, including collapsing advertising revenue and declining journalism jobs, rather than solely the strike’s impact.
- The loss of the Post-Gazette is expected to create a major gap in local news coverage in western Pennsylvania
