The Detroit News

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.

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.

1. 2026Acquired by USA Today Co.

   Reference material states that USA Today Co. announced and completed an acquisition of The Detroit News in January 2026.

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2. 2025Printing and partnership restructuring announced

   Reference material described plans to close the Sterling Heights printing plant and dissolve the Detroit Media Partnership.

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3. 2024Moved to Cass Avenue headquarters

   The News moved to a historic former Cadillac showroom designed by Albert Kahn.

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4. 2014Offices moved to the former Federal Reserve building

   The Detroit Media Partnership and both newspapers moved to offices at 160 West Fort Street.

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5. 2009Print delivery model reduced

   Weekday home delivery was limited and some newsstand editions were reduced in size.

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6. 2006Separate Sunday editions resumed

   The combined Sunday News and Free Press edition was replaced by a stand-alone Sunday Free Press.

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7. 2005Ownership changed in Detroit newspaper transaction

   Gannett sold The News to MediaNews Group and acquired the Free Press, becoming managing partner of the joint operating agreement.

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8. 1994Pulitzer Prize for Beat Reporting

   Eric Freedman and Jim Mitzelfeld won the Pulitzer Prize for Beat Reporting.

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9. 1992Deb Price column launched

   Deb Price began a nationally syndicated column focused on gay life.

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10. 1989Joint operating agreement established

    The News and the Detroit Free Press combined business operations through the Detroit Media Partnership while keeping separate newsrooms.

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11. 1985Evening News Association merged with Gannett

    The historical owner of The News became part of Gannett.

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12. 1982Pulitzer Prize for Public Service

    The newspaper received the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service.

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13. 1947Michigan television station established

    The company established WWJ-TV, later renamed WDIV-TV.

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14. 1942Pulitzer Prize for Photography

    Photographer Milton Brooks won the Pulitzer Prize for Photography, the first award in that category.

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15. 1931Aerial photography program launched

    The News acquired a Pitcairn autogyro for aerial news photography.

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16. 1922Detroit Journal absorbed

    The News absorbed the Detroit Journal.

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17. 1920Radio station 8MK began broadcasting

    The newspaper launched station 8MK, later known as WWJ.

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18. 1919Detroit Tribune absorbed

    The News absorbed the Detroit Tribune.

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19. 1917Albert Kahn-designed headquarters opened

    The newspaper's Detroit building was completed under the design of architect Albert Kahn.

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20. 1873The newspaper was founded

    James E. Scripps established The Detroit News in Detroit, Michigan.

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A legacy metropolitan newspaper positioned around authoritative local reporting, regional investigative journalism, sports and automotive coverage, and a generally conservative editorial voice.

• The Detroit News print editionNewspaper1873

  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.

• TheDetroitNews.comDigital publication

  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 and editorial pagesOpinion journalism1873

  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.

• Sports coverageSpecialist journalism1873

  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.

• Automotive and business coverageSpecialist journalism1873

  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.

• 2025Separate operations from the Detroit Free PressStrategy

  Gannett and MediaNews Group announced that the long-running Detroit Media Partnership would be dissolved.

  What changed. 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.

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• 2009Reduce weekday home deliveryStrategy

  Declining newspaper economics led the Detroit Media Partnership to revise the print distribution model for both Detroit dailies.

  What changed. 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.

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• 2005Change ownership while preserving the joint operating structureM&A

  Gannett reorganized its Detroit newspaper interests through a transaction involving MediaNews Group, Knight Ridder, The Detroit News, and the Detroit Free Press.

  What changed. 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.

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• 1989Enter a joint operating agreement with the Detroit Free PressStrategy

  The two major Detroit newspapers faced the economic pressures associated with operating competing metropolitan print businesses.

  What changed. 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.

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• 2025Detroit Media Partnership planned to end joint operations

  MediaNews Group and Gannett announced plans to dissolve the Detroit Media Partnership and operate The Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press independently.

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• 2025Printing operations were scheduled to leave Sterling Heights

  Gannett announced that the Sterling Heights plant printing the Detroit newspapers would close after a planned final production run, with printing transferred to other facilities.

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• 2024The newspaper moved to a former Cadillac showroom

  The Detroit News moved to the historic Albert Kahn-designed former Cadillac showroom at 6001 Cass Avenue in Detroit.

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• 2009Weekday delivery was reduced

  The Detroit Media Partnership implemented a plan that limited weekday home delivery and reduced the size of some newsstand editions.

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• 1997Detroit newspapers strike ended after nearly two years

  Guild, press, printing, and distribution employees ended a strike that had begun in 1995. Subsequent litigation continued, and the unions later lost an unfair-labor-practices case on appeal.

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1. The Detroit News
2. The Detroit News official website