The Detroit News
A major Detroit-area daily newspaper with a long-standing conservative editorial identity and a substantial digital news operation.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
The Detroit News is one of the principal daily newspapers serving Detroit, Michigan, and the surrounding metropolitan region. Founded in 1873 by James E. Scripps, it developed from a local newspaper into a major regional news institution covering politics, government, business, automobiles, sports, culture, and community affairs. Its historical rival is the Detroit Free Press, and the two newspapers shared commercial and production functions for decades while maintaining separate editorial staffs. The newspaper's early growth was supported by George Gough Booth, James E. Scripps's son-in-law, who later built the Booth Newspapers chain. The News expanded its position in the Detroit market by absorbing or acquiring competing publications, including the Detroit Tribune in 1919, the Detroit Journal in 1922, and the Detroit Times in 1960. The former Times facility remained associated with the paper's printing operations for many years, and the downtown location became known as Times Square. The News has repeatedly been associated with technological experimentation. It claims a pioneering connection with radio through station 8MK, which began broadcasting in 1920 and later became WWJ. In the 1930s, the newspaper used aircraft equipped for aerial photography, including an autogyro and a modified Lockheed Orion. These experiments helped establish the model for modern newspaper news helicopters and aerial reporting. The company also helped establish Detroit's first television station in 1947; that station eventually became WDIV-TV, although it is no longer part of the newspaper business. The paper's editorial identity is generally conservative, particularly on economic and political questions, while its historical self-description has also emphasized support for civil liberties. It has not endorsed a Democratic presidential candidate, although it has occasionally withheld an endorsement from a Republican nominee or supported another candidate, including Gary Johnson in 2016. Its newsroom and opinion pages have included political columnists, sports writers, automotive journalists, business reporters, food critics, and specialist coverage of Michigan institutions. The Detroit News has received three Pulitzer Prizes. Its awards include the 1942 Pulitzer Prize for Photography for Milton Brooks, the 1982 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, and the 1994 Pulitzer Prize for Beat Reporting for Eric Freedman and Jim Mitzelfeld. The paper has also been recognized for general excellence and individual reporting. In 1989, The News and the Free Press entered a long-term joint operating agreement. Their business and distribution functions were combined under the Detroit Media Partnership, while the editorial operations remained distinct. The Free Press moved into The News's building in 1998, and the papers later ended their shared Sunday edition. Financial and industry pressures subsequently led to reduced weekday home delivery, redesigned print products, and increasing emphasis on digital publishing. Ownership changed several times. The Evening News Association, the historical owner of The News, merged with Gannett in 1985. In 2005, Gannett sold The News to MediaNews Group while acquiring the Free Press from Knight Ridder, becoming the managing partner of the joint operating arrangement. Later corporate restructuring brought the newspaper into the USA Today Co. organization. Reference material states that the Detroit Media Partnership was scheduled to dissolve at the end of 2025, after which The News and the Free Press would operate independently, and that USA Today Co. subsequently acquired The Detroit News in January 2026. The newspaper continues to publish in print and online, with its digital edition serving local readers and broader audiences.
History
The Detroit News began publication in 1873 under James E. Scripps. Its earliest premises were rented in the building of the Detroit Free Press, which later became its principal commercial rival. The newspaper's growth was strongly influenced by George Gough Booth, Scripps's son-in-law, who joined the business and subsequently established the Booth Newspapers chain. During the first half of the twentieth century, The News consolidated its Detroit position through acquisitions and closures. It absorbed the Detroit Tribune in 1919 and the Detroit Journal in 1922. In 1960, it purchased the struggling Detroit Times and shut it down. The Times building remained in use as a printing plant until 1975, and its former downtown site is commemorated by the name Times Square. The Detroit News's own Albert Kahn-designed building opened in 1917. Its large street-level arches were later bricked in after the 1967 12th Street Riot and were reopened during renovations connected with the Free Press's eventual relocation. The newspaper has a notable history of media innovation. It claims that station 8MK, launched in 1920, was the first newspaper-operated radio station in the world. The station later became WWJ. In 1947, the company established Michigan's first television station, WWJ-TV, now WDIV-TV. The newspaper also used specialized aircraft for aerial photography, beginning with a Pitcairn autogyro in 1931 and later a modified Lockheed Orion. These aircraft provided an early model for aerial news-gathering. The News has maintained a generally conservative editorial position. Its opinion journalism has historically combined conservative economic views with a stated commitment to civil liberties. Deb Price's column, introduced in 1992, was an early nationally syndicated American newspaper column devoted specifically to gay life. The paper has won Pulitzer recognition for photography, public service, and beat reporting, including Milton Brooks's 1942 photography award and the organization's 1982 public-service award. Labor relations became a major episode in the paper's modern history. In July 1995, employees represented by newspaper, printing, press, and transportation unions struck The News, the Free Press, and their shared distribution operation. The dispute lasted until February 1997, with many employees crossing the picket line. Court proceedings continued afterward, and the journalists' union ultimately lost its unfair-labor-practices case on appeal. In 1985, the Evening News Association merged with Gannett. Four years later, The News and the Free Press entered a long-term joint operating agreement that combined business, printing, and distribution functions but retained independent editorial staffs. The Free Press moved into The News building in 1998. Their joint Sunday product ended in 2006, and continuing pressure on print economics led to delivery reductions and changes in the size and frequency of print editions. Ownership and operations shifted again in 2005, when Gannett sold The News to MediaNews Group while acquiring the Free Press from Knight Ridder. Gannett became the managing partner of the joint operating arrangement. The partnership later moved its offices to the former Federal Reserve building on West Fort Street, before The Detroit News moved in 2024 to the historic former Cadillac showroom on Cass Avenue. Reference material describes further restructuring in 2025, including the planned closure of the Sterling Heights printing plant and the dissolution of the Detroit Media Partnership. It also states that USA Today Co. acquired The Detroit News in January 2026. The paper's current business combines a reduced but continuing print operation with digital publication, local reporting, opinion journalism, and specialist coverage of Detroit and Michigan.
- 2026
Acquired by USA Today Co.
[1]Reference material states that USA Today Co. announced and completed an acquisition of The Detroit News in January 2026.
- 2025
Printing and partnership restructuring announced
[1]Reference material described plans to close the Sterling Heights printing plant and dissolve the Detroit Media Partnership.
- 2024
Moved to Cass Avenue headquarters
[1]The News moved to a historic former Cadillac showroom designed by Albert Kahn.
- 2014
Offices moved to the former Federal Reserve building
[1]The Detroit Media Partnership and both newspapers moved to offices at 160 West Fort Street.
- 2009
Print delivery model reduced
[1]Weekday home delivery was limited and some newsstand editions were reduced in size.
- 2006
Separate Sunday editions resumed
[1]The combined Sunday News and Free Press edition was replaced by a stand-alone Sunday Free Press.
- 2005
Ownership changed in Detroit newspaper transaction
[1]Gannett sold The News to MediaNews Group and acquired the Free Press, becoming managing partner of the joint operating agreement.
- 1994
Pulitzer Prize for Beat Reporting
[1]Eric Freedman and Jim Mitzelfeld won the Pulitzer Prize for Beat Reporting.
- 1992
Deb Price column launched
[1]Deb Price began a nationally syndicated column focused on gay life.
- 1989
Joint operating agreement established
[1]The News and the Detroit Free Press combined business operations through the Detroit Media Partnership while keeping separate newsrooms.
Products and positioning
A legacy metropolitan newspaper positioned around authoritative local reporting, regional investigative journalism, sports and automotive coverage, and a generally conservative editorial voice.
Newspaper · 1873
The Detroit News print edition
The core print newspaper provides local and regional reporting for Detroit and southeastern Michigan, with sections covering government, business, automobiles, sports, culture, and public affairs. The publication historically appeared daily, although changes in home delivery and production have reduced the traditional print footprint.
Digital publication
TheDetroitNews.com
The newspaper's online service extends its Detroit-area reporting beyond the print edition. It includes breaking news, local government coverage, sports, business, automotive journalism, opinion, lifestyle material, and digital access features. The publication also maintains a separate European Union version designed not to track personal information.
Opinion journalism · 1873
Opinion and editorial pages
The editorial section is a defining part of the brand and generally presents a conservative perspective, especially on economic and political subjects. It also includes syndicated and staff columns addressing Michigan politics, public policy, civil liberties, and community issues.
Specialist journalism · 1873
Sports coverage
The News maintains a substantial sports operation focused on Detroit professional teams, Michigan college athletics, and regional sports developments. Its sports staff has included columnists, beat reporters, and specialist writers covering baseball, football, basketball, hockey, and other local interests.
Specialist journalism · 1873
Automotive and business coverage
Automotive and business reporting reflects Detroit's role as a center of vehicle manufacturing and industrial activity. Coverage includes automakers, mobility, transportation, corporate affairs, labor, regional economic development, and Michigan business policy.
Brand decisions
2025
Separate operations from the Detroit Free PressStrategyBackground
Gannett and MediaNews Group announced that the long-running Detroit Media Partnership would be dissolved.
Action taken
The companies planned to operate The News and the Free Press independently, with The News also collaborating with The Macomb Daily and The Oakland Press.
Aftermath
The restructuring was expected to end the newspapers' shared business and production framework after more than three decades.
2009
Reduce weekday home deliveryStrategyBackground
Declining newspaper economics led the Detroit Media Partnership to revise the print distribution model for both Detroit dailies.
Action taken
Home delivery was limited to selected weekdays, while other weekday editions were reduced and sold primarily through newsstands.
Aftermath
The change illustrated the broader shift from traditional daily print circulation toward lower-cost distribution and digital publishing.
2005
Change ownership while preserving the joint operating structureM&ABackground
Gannett reorganized its Detroit newspaper interests through a transaction involving MediaNews Group, Knight Ridder, The Detroit News, and the Detroit Free Press.
Action taken
Gannett sold The News to MediaNews Group, acquired the Free Press, and became managing partner of the joint operating agreement.
Aftermath
The two newspapers continued to share commercial infrastructure while maintaining separate editorial identities.
1989
Enter a joint operating agreement with the Detroit Free PressStrategyBackground
The two major Detroit newspapers faced the economic pressures associated with operating competing metropolitan print businesses.
Action taken
They combined business, production, and distribution functions through the Detroit Media Partnership while keeping their editorial staffs separate.
Aftermath
The arrangement continued for decades, including shared facilities and a shared Sunday product for part of its history, before plans were made to dissolve it in 2025.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/the-detroit-news · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled