{{short description|Newspaper company based in Detroit, United States}}{{Hatnote|"The Detroit News and Free Press" redirects here. For the independent newspapers that jointly published The Detroit News and Free Press on weekends from 1989 to 2006, see The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press.}} {{Infobox company | name = Detroit Media Partnership, L.P. | trading_name = Michigan.com (2014–2025) | former_name = Detroit Newspaper Agency (1989–2005)<br>Detroit Newspaper Partnership (2005–2007) | type = Private | logo = Detroit Media Partnership.png | foundation = {{sda|1989|11|27}} | defunct = {{End date and age|2025|12|28}} | location = Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | key_people = Timothy Gruber (president, CEO) | industry = Media | products = Newspapers<br>News websites | owner = USA Today Co. (95%)<br>MediaNews Group (5%) | homepage = {{url|http://detroitmedia.com}} }}
The '''Detroit Media Partnership''' was a joint venture which managed the ''Detroit Free Press'' and ''The Detroit News'', the two primary daily newspapers in Detroit, Michigan, under a joint operating agreement from 1989 to 2025.<ref name=":15">{{Cite web |last=Ballentine |first=Summer |date=2025-12-28 |title=End of newspaper JOA heralds new era of competition in Detroit |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/2025/12/28/end-of-newspaper-joint-operating-agreement-heralds-new-era-of-media-competition-in-detroit/87851045007/ |access-date=2025-12-29 |website=The Detroit News |language=en-US}}</ref> It handled the production, advertising, circulation, and other business operations of both publications, though their newsrooms and editorial departments remained separate.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last=Headlee |first=Celeste |date=2005-08-04 |title=Detroit Papers to Change Ownership |url=https://www.npr.org/2005/08/04/4784917/detroit-papers-to-change-ownership |access-date=2025-12-27 |work=NPR |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Rubin |first=Neal |date=2025-06-16 |title=Detroit Free Press, Detroit News to end joint operating agreement at end of 2025 |url=https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2025/06/16/detroit-free-press-news-joint-operating-agreement/84226824007/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=2025-12-27 |website=Detroit Free Press |language=en-US}}</ref>
At the time of its dissolution in December 2025,<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Eggert |first=David |last2=Walsh |first2=Dustin |date=2025-12-26 |title=Bound together for 36 years, Detroit's 2 daily newspapers go their separate ways |url=https://www.crainsdetroit.com/media-marketing/detroit-news-free-press-split-joint-operating-agreement-ends |url-access=subscription |access-date=2025-12-27 |website=Crain's Detroit Business |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Detroit News to operate independently at year’s end |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/2025/06/16/detroit-news-detroit-free-press-joa-ending-newspapers-media/84226670007/ |access-date=2025-12-27 |website=The Detroit News |language=en-US}}</ref> the Detroit Media Partnership was primarily owned and managed by Gannett (now USA Today Co.), owner of the ''Free Press,'' with ''Detroit News'' owner MediaNews Group owning a minority stake.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Shea |first=Bill |date=2018-07-01 |title=Fate of Detroit's newspaper partnership unclear |url=https://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20180701/news/665061/fate-of-detroits-newspaper-partnership-unclear |url-access=subscription |access-date=2025-12-27 |website=Crain's Detroit Business |language=en}}</ref> Only a month after the dissolution, USA Today Co. announced that it would acquire ''The Detroit News'' outright.
==History== {{Further|Detroit Free Press#History|The Detroit News#History}}
=== Background === In 1986, ''The Detroit News'' and the ''Detroit Free Press,'' longtime rival daily newspapers in Detroit, Michigan, announced plans to enter into a joint operating agreement and merge their operations.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Houlsha |first=John |date=1986-04-15 |title=2 PAPERS IN DETROIT PLAN TIE |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1986/04/15/business/2-papers-in-detroit-plan-tie.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20150524190949/http://www.nytimes.com/1986/04/15/business/2-papers-in-detroit-plan-tie.html |archive-date=2015-05-24 |access-date=2025-12-28 |work=The New York Times |pages=D1 |language=en}}</ref> At the time, ''The Detroit News,'' recently purchased by Gannett, was the larger and more successful of the two newspapers, with an average daily circulation of 645,000; the ''Free Press,'' owned by Knight-Ridder, had a slightly smaller circulation of 634,000.<ref name=":0" /> Both publications were losing money in the 1980s, though the ''Free Press'' dealt with greater financial losses.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":9">{{Cite news |last=Scardino |first=Albert |date=1988-08-09 |title=Detroit Newspaper Tie Allowed by Meese |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/09/business/the-media-business-detroit-newspaper-tie-allowed-by-meese.html |work=The New York Times |pages=D1}}</ref>
The joint operating agreement was intended to preserve the distinct editorial positions of the two papers: historically, the ''Free Press'' was generally considered editorially liberal, while ''The Detroit News'' was regarded as more conservative.<ref name=":13">{{Cite web |last=Kurtz |first=Howard |date=1991-03-17 |title=Detroit's unhappy media marriage |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1991/03/17/detroits-unhappy-media-marriage/226a90a4-b6a4-44fe-8549-29cf8b749bba/ |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251228061725/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1991/03/17/detroits-unhappy-media-marriage/226a90a4-b6a4-44fe-8549-29cf8b749bba/ |archive-date=2025-12-28 |website=The Washington Post}}</ref><ref name=":14">{{Cite web |last=Starkman |first=Eric |date=2025-12-27 |title=As JOA Ends, News and Free Press Remain Among Best Local Newspapers in America |url=https://www.deadlinedetroit.com/articles/34035/starkman_as_joa_ends_news_and_free_press_remain_among_best_local_newspapers_in_america |website=Deadline Detroit}}</ref>
==== Antitrust case ==== The proposed operational merger of Detroit's two dominant newspapers was the subject of antitrust concerns.<ref name=":10">{{Cite book |last=Kwoka |first=John E. |title=The Antitrust Revolution: Economics, Competition, and Policy |last2=White |first2=Lawrence J. |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1998 |isbn=9780195120158 |pages=25-44 |chapter=Part 1: Horizontal Structure, Case 1: Partial Consolidation: The Detroit Newspaper Joint Operating Agreement (1988) |chapter-url=https://global.oup.com/us/companion.websites/fdscontent/uscompanion/us/pdf/kwoka/0195120159_01.pdf}}</ref> Under the Newspaper Preservation Act of 1970, newspapers seeking to form joint operating agreements could be granted exemptions from federal antitrust law if it could be proven that one of the newspapers involved was otherwise likely to fail.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=The Newspaper Preservation Act: An Ineffective Step in the Right Direction |url=https://bclawreview.bc.edu/articles/2116/files/63d7b1bd7bbeb.pdf |journal=Boston College Law Review}}</ref> In a July 1986 report, the U.S. Department of Justice's Antitrust Division recommended to Attorney General Edwin Meese that hearings on the proposed agreement be held before an administrative law judge.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hearings recommended for Detroit newspaper proposal - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/07/24/Hearings-recommended-for-Detroit-newspaper-proposal/8818522561600/ |access-date=2025-12-28 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref> Hearings were held in 1987. Ernst & Whinney audited the ''Free Press''<nowiki/>'s finances, concluding that it was unlikely to become profitable independently.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web |title=Hearings open on Detroit newspaper agreement |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/08/03/Hearings-open-on-Detroit-newspaper-agreement/6702554961600/ |access-date=2025-12-28 |website=United Press International |language=en}}</ref> Unions representing workers at both publications opposed the agreement, as did then-Detroit mayor Coleman Young.<ref name=":11" />
Meese granted the exemption in August 1988, believing that Knight-Ridder would close the ''Free Press'' if he did not.<ref name=":9" /> Shortly after Meese approved the agreement, a group of newspaper readers and advertisers sued his successor, Dick Thornburgh, seeking an injunction,<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=1988-08-17 |title=Newspaper readers and advertisers filed suit in... |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-08-17-fi-607-story.html |access-date=2025-12-28 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> and asserting that neither paper qualified for the antitrust exemption''.''<ref>{{Cite news |date=1988-08-18 |title=THE MEDIA BUSINESS; Judge Delays Partial Merger Of Detroit Papers' Operations |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/18/business/the-media-business-judge-delays-partial-merger-of-detroit-papers-operations.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20150525090725/http://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/18/business/the-media-business-judge-delays-partial-merger-of-detroit-papers-operations.html |archive-date=2015-05-25 |access-date=2025-12-28 |work=The New York Times |pages=D1 |language=en}}</ref> An appeals court upheld Meese's decision in January 1989,<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=1989-01-28 |title=COURT UPHOLDS MERGER OF DETROIT'S 2 DAILIES |url=https://www.deseret.com/1989/1/28/18793009/court-upholds-merger-of-detroit-s-2-dailies/ |access-date=2025-12-28 |website=Deseret News |language=en}}</ref> as did a 4-4 tie vote of the Supreme Court on November 13, 1989.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Greenhouse |first=Linda |date=1989-11-14 |title=THE MEDIA BUSINESS; Linking of 2 Detroit Papers Upheld by Court in Tie Vote |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/14/business/the-media-business-linking-of-2-detroit-papers-upheld-by-court-in-tie-vote.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20171221033836/http://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/14/business/the-media-business-linking-of-2-detroit-papers-upheld-by-court-in-tie-vote.html |archive-date=2017-12-21 |access-date=2025-12-28 |work=The New York Times |pages=D1 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Vile |first=John R. |date=2009-01-01 |title=Newspaper Preservation Act of 1970 (1970) |url=https://firstamendment.mtsu.edu/article/newspaper-preservation-act-of-1970/ |access-date=2025-12-28 |website=The Free Speech Center |publisher=Middle Tennessee State University |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Joint operations === Following the Supreme Court decision, the newspapers entered into the agreement, combining their business operations into the '''Detroit Newspaper Agency''' on November 27, 1989.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Archives |first=L. A. Times |date=1989-11-27 |title=Union Members Vote to Strike Detroit Newspapers Over Wages |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-11-27-mn-114-story.html |access-date=2025-12-28 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1989-11-27 |title=THE MEDIA BUSINESS; Strike Set at Detroit Papers |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/27/business/the-media-business-strike-set-at-detroit-papers.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20171220230756/http://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/27/business/the-media-business-strike-set-at-detroit-papers.html |archive-date=2017-12-20 |access-date=2025-12-28 |work=The New York Times |pages=D8 |language=en}}</ref> Under the terms of the initial agreement, Gannett and Knight-Ridder retained ownership of their respective newspapers, and split the Agency's profits.<ref name=":7">{{Cite news |last=Seelye |first=Katharine Q. |date=2005-08-04 |title=2 Huge Publishing Chains Swap Newspapers |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/04/business/media/2-huge-publishing-chains-swap-newspapers.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708231752/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/04/business/media/2-huge-publishing-chains-swap-newspapers.html |archive-date=2025-07-08 |access-date=2025-12-27 |work=The New York Times |language=en}}</ref> Gannett controlled three of the five seats on the Detroit Newspaper Agency's board of directors,<ref name=":7" /> though Knight-Ridder retained veto power over certain decisions.<ref name=":10" />
The two papers began to publish joint Saturday and Sunday editions under the name '''''The Detroit News and Free Press''''' in December 1989,<ref name=":5" /> alternating responsibility for individual sections of the paper.<ref name=":13" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Hall |first=Bob |last2=Stroud |first2=Joe |last3=Merriweather |first3=Heath J. |date=1989-12-02 |title=Combined paper debuts today |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-first-front-page-of-t/187602294/ |work=The Detroit News and Free Press |pages=1A, 4A}}</ref>
In 1989, the ''Detroit Free Press'' was the 10th-highest-circulation paper in the United States, and the combined ''Detroit News'' ''and'' ''Free Press'' was the country's fourth-largest Sunday paper.{{Citation needed|date=December 2025}}
==== Strike ==== {{Main|Detroit newspaper strike of 1995–1997}}
From July 1995 to February 1997, unionized staffers of the Detroit Newspaper Agency went on a prolonged strike.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lessenberry |first=Jack |date=2005-07-15 |title=Detroit newspaper strike took a terrible toll |url=https://www.toledoblade.com/JackLessenberry/2005/07/15/Detroit-newspaper-strike-took-a-terrible-toll/stories/200507150045 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200429060241/https://www.toledoblade.com/JackLessenberry/2005/07/15/Detroit-newspaper-strike-took-a-terrible-toll/stories/200507150045 |archive-date=2020-04-29 |access-date=2025-12-27 |website=The Blade |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Peterson |first=Iver |date=1997-02-24 |title=Recalling three waves of newspaper strikes, after the devastation in Detroit. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/02/24/business/recalling-three-waves-of-newspaper-strikes-after-the-devastation-in-detroit.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20190114094800/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/02/24/business/recalling-three-waves-of-newspaper-strikes-after-the-devastation-in-detroit.html |archive-date=2019-01-14 |access-date=2025-12-27 |work=The New York Times |pages=D9 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite news |last=Barringer |first=Felicity |title=MEDIA: The Strike That Ate Circulation; In Detroit, Profits Are Up But Readers Have Left |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/17/business/media-strike-that-ate-circulation-detroit-profits-are-up-but-readers-have-left.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20181212141256/https://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/17/business/media-strike-that-ate-circulation-detroit-profits-are-up-but-readers-have-left.html |archive-date=2018-12-12 |access-date=2025-12-28 |work=The New York Times |pages=8D |language=en}}</ref> ''The New York Times'' described the strike as "the last great newspaper strike of the 20th century."<ref name=":12" />[[File:Detroit News Building.JPG|thumb|The Detroit News Complex, which housed both newspapers' offices from 1998 to 2014]] In 1998, the ''Free Press'' closed its offices in the Detroit Free Press Building and moved into the Detroit News Complex.<ref name=":6">{{cite web |last1=Austin |first1=Dan |title=Detroit News Building |url=https://historicdetroit.org/building/detroit-news-building/ |accessdate=29 January 2016 |website=Historic Detroit |publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Muller |first=David |date=2013-09-12 |title=Former Detroit Free Press building sold for just over $4 million at auction |url=https://www.mlive.com/business/detroit/2013/09/former_detroit_free_press_buil_1.html |access-date=2025-12-27 |website=MLive |language=en}}</ref>
=== Restructuring and Gannett ownership === On August 3, 2005, Gannett acquired the ''Free Press'' from Knight Ridder for $262 million, and sold the ''Detroit News'' to MediaNews Group for $25 million.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vandermey |first=Anne |date=2005-08-07 |title=Gannett purchases Detroit Free Press |url=https://www.michigandaily.com/uncategorized/gannett-purchases-detroit-free-press/ |access-date=2025-12-27 |website=The Michigan Daily |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-08-05 |title=Detroit papers change hands in 3-company deal |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2005/08/04/detroit-papers-change-hands-in-3-company-deal/ |access-date=2025-12-27 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Grimm |first=Joe |date=2017-08-01 |title=Newspaper Wars in a Trump World |url=https://www.hourdetroit.com/community/newspaper-wars-in-a-trump-world/ |access-date=2025-12-27 |website=Hour Detroit Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-08-01 |title=Free Press, News struggle after revising their JOA |url=https://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20100801/DM01/308019963/free-press-news-struggle-after-revising-their-joa |access-date=2025-12-27 |website=Crain's Detroit Business |language=en}}</ref> Gannett also purchased Knight Ridder's ownership stake in the Detroit Newspaper Agency, which was restructured and renamed Detroit Newspaper Partnership, LP.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2005-10-11 |title=Gannett Releases September Statistical Report |url=https://www.tegna.com/gannett-releases-september-statistical-report-3/ |access-date=2025-12-27 |publisher=Gannett Co. Inc. |language=en-US |via=Tegna}}</ref> Gannett retained a 95% ownership stake and operational control as the primary partner.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /> With the restructuring of the partnership, the joint operating agreement was renewed through 2025.<ref name=":4" />
Under the restructured partnership, ''The Detroit News'' became a morning newspaper.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dunn |first=Julie |date=2005-08-03 |title=Detroit papers change hands |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2005/08/03/detroit-papers-change-hands/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251229171651/https://www.denverpost.com/2005/08/03/detroit-papers-change-hands/ |archive-date=2025-12-29 |access-date= |website=The Denver Post |language=en-US}}</ref> The joint ''Detroit News and Free Press'' on weekends was discontinued on April 30, 2006.<ref name=":16">{{Cite news |last=Butler |first=Dave |date=2006-04-30 |title=Saturday becomes a News day |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-detroit-news-statemen/187707131/ |work=The Detroit News and Free Press |pages=1A}}</ref> Beginning in May 2006, the two newspapers began to publish independent Saturday editions, while the ''Free Press'' took over the Sunday edition entirely, producing the ''Sunday Free Press'' with a page of featured editorial content from ''The Detroit News.''<ref name=":16" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Anger |first=Paul |date=2006-05-07 |title=Welcome aboard! |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-sunday-free-press-int/187707612/ |access-date=2025-12-29 |work=Detroit Free Press |pages=1A}}</ref>
The joint venture was renamed Detroit Media Partnership in April 2007.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2007-04-20 |title=Partnership renamed |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-dnp-becomes-dmp/187726745/ |work=Detroit Free Press |pages=1D |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
In March 2009, the Detroit Media Partnership scaled back its daily home delivery of both publications to three days per week, eliminating delivery of the Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday print editions. Dave Hunke, then-CEO of the partnership, stated that more than 80% of its advertising revenue was sourced from the Thursday, Friday, and Sunday editions.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pérez-Peña |first=Richard |last2=Chapman |first2=Mary |date=2009-03-31 |title=Detroit’s Daily Papers Are Now Not So Daily |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/31/business/media/31paper.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250930200703/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/31/business/media/31paper.html |archive-date=2025-09-30 |access-date=2025-12-27 |work=The New York Times |language=en}}</ref>
Until 2009, the Detroit Media Partnership also served as the local distributor of ''The New York Times,'' ''The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Investor's Business Daily, and Financial Times.''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shea |first=Bill |date=2009-03-30 |title=Detroit Media Partnership ceases delivery of other publications |url=https://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20090330/DM01/903309934/detroit-media-partnership-ceases-delivery-of-other-publications |url-access=subscription |access-date=2025-12-27 |website=Crain's Detroit Business |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Morgan |first=Mary |date=2009-03-30 |title=Washtenaw News Wins NY Times Contract |url=https://annarborchronicle.com/2009/03/30/washtenaw-news-wins-ny-times-contract/index.html |work=The Ann Arbor Chronicle |via=Ann Arbor District Library}}</ref>
In July 2010, Gannett introduced the website '''Michigan.com''', which aggregated news from the ''Detroit News'' and the ''Free Press,'' along with other Gannett newspapers in Michigan, such as the ''Lansing State Journal.''<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2010-07-06 |title=Detroit Media Partnership Launches Michigan.com |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/detroit-media-partnership-launches-michigancom-97846969.html |access-date=2025-12-30 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}}</ref> The Detroit Media Partnership adopted the Michigan.com brand for business-to-business marketing in October 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gallagher |first=John |date=2014-10-09 |title=Michigan.com is landing pad for state's digital media |url=https://www.freep.com/story/money/business/michigan/2014/10/09/michigancom-detroit-media-partnerhsip-gannett/16968249/ |access-date=2025-12-30 |website=Detroit Free Press |language=en-US}}</ref>
In October 2014, the offices of both newspapers and the Partnership moved from the Detroit News Complex, which the ''Detroit News'' had occupied since 1917, to the then-newly reopened former Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Detroit Branch Building.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rubin |first=Neal |date=2014-11-24 |title=News moving out, leaving century of memories behind |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/columnists/neal-rubin/2014/10/23/rubin-detroit-news-memories/17817013/ |access-date=2025-12-27 |website=The Detroit News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-10-27 |title=Detroit Free Press moves into the Federal Reserve Building |url=https://www.freep.com/picture-gallery/news/local/2014/10/27/detroit-free-press-moves-into-the-federal-reserve-building/18007045/ |access-date=2025-12-27 |website=Detroit Free Press |language=en-US}}</ref> The Detroit News Complex was sold to Bedrock Real Estate, the former Federal Reserve building's owner.<ref name=":6" />
=== Separation === [[File:Detroit Media Partnership Sterling Heights Operations Facility at night, from Metro Parkway.jpg|thumb|Joint printing plant in Sterling Heights, Michigan, closed in 2025]] Gannett sold the partnership's printing plant in the Detroit suburb of Sterling Heights in 2023,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grzelewski |first=Jordyn |date=2023-03-13 |title=Detroit News, Free Press printing plant sold to Ohio developer |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/2023/03/13/gannett-sells-sterling-heights-printing-plant-to-ohio-developer/70004284007/ |access-date=2025-12-27 |website=The Detroit News |language=en-US}}</ref> and announced in January 2025 that it would close.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Noble |first=Breana |date=2025-01-21 |title=Gannett to move Detroit News, Free Press printing operations from Sterling Heights |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/2025/01/21/gannett-move-the-detroit-news-free-press-printing-operations-sterling-heights/77858358007/ |access-date=2025-12-27 |website=The Detroit News |language=en-US}}</ref> The plant, which was opened by ''The Detroit News'' in 1975'',''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Finley |first=Nolan |date=2023-08-22 |title=The Detroit News at 150: A timeline |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/in-depth/news/local/michigan-history/2023/08/22/the-detroit-news-at-150-a-timeline/70619064007/ |access-date=2025-12-28 |website=The Detroit News |language=en-US}}</ref> printed 32 newspapers at the time of its closure.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Detroit Free Press |title=Detroit Free Press' printing facility in Sterling Heights to shutter in August |url=https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/macomb/2025/01/21/detroit-free-press-sterling-heights-operations-facility-closing/77859894007/ |access-date=2025-12-27 |website=Detroit Free Press |language=en-US}}</ref> It closed on August 3, 2025,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Langton |first=Charlie |date=2025-01-22 |title=Hot off the presses! Detroit Free Press printing facility in Sterling Heights to close |url=https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/hot-off-presses-detroit-free-press-printing-press-sterling-heights-close |access-date=2025-12-27 |website=FOX 2 Detroit |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2025-08-04 |title=Detroit Free Press transitions printing to Ohio |url=https://www.freep.com/story/money/business/michigan/2025/08/04/detroit-free-press-printing-plant-sterling-heights/85411161007/ |access-date=2025-12-27 |website=Detroit Free Press |language=en-US}}</ref> resulting in layoffs of more than 100 employees.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Chloe |date=2025-05-06 |title=Gannett to lay off 109 employees at Sterling Heights printing facility |url=https://www.mlive.com/news/2025/05/gannett-to-lay-off-109-employees-at-sterling-heights-printing-facility.html |access-date=2025-12-27 |website=MLive |language=en}}</ref> Beginning with the August 5, 2025 editions of the ''Detroit News'' and ''Free Press,'' both have been printed at a Gannett plant in Canton, Ohio.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Last run of The Detroit News at Sterling Heights printing presses |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/picture-gallery/media/photo/2025/08/04/last-run-of-the-detroit-news-at-sterling-heights-printing-plant/85511078007/ |access-date=2025-12-27 |website=The Detroit News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Skinner |first=Victor |date=2025-08-08 |title=Detroit Free Press, The Detroit News move print operations to Ohio 'to ensure the future of local journalism' |url=https://www.themidwesterner.news/2025/08/detroit-free-press-the-detroit-news-move-print-operations-to-ohio-to-ensure-the-future-of-local-journalism/ |access-date=2025-12-27 |website=The Midwesterner}}</ref>
The two papers' newsrooms separately moved out of the Federal Reserve Building in December 2024: the ''Free Press'' moved to a nearby WeWork coworking space, and the ''News'' relocated to an office in the New Center district.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pinho |first=Kirk |date=2024-12-13 |title=Detroit's 2 daily newspapers move into separate buildings |url=https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estate/detroit-free-press-detroit-news-get-new-offices |url-access=subscription |access-date=2025-12-27 |website=Crain's Detroit Business |language=en}}</ref>
In June 2025, both newspapers announced that the joint operating agreement would not be renewed, and that the two would separate following the publication of the December 28, 2025 issue of the ''Free Press'', dissolving the Detroit Media Partnership.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" />
Following the dissolution, ''The Detroit News'' and the ''Detroit Free Press'' began to directly compete, as they did prior to the agreement.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Finley |first=Nolan |date=2025-12-27 |title=Detroit's great newspaper war resumes |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/columnists/nolan-finley/2025/12/27/finley-detroits-great-newspaper-war-resumes-today/87902885007/ |access-date=2025-12-30 |website=The Detroit News |language=en-US}}</ref> MediaNews Group planned to fully assume its operations by the end of January, introducing a Sunday edition on January 18, 2026, and a redesigned print edition and website.<ref name=":15" /> It was expected to move printing to the ''Chicago Tribune''<nowiki/>'s plant in Illinois,<ref name=":8" /> and collaborate with other MediaNews Group-owned publications in the Detroit area such as ''The Oakland Press'' and ''Macomb Daily''.<ref name=":15" />
The joint operating agreement between ''The Detroit News'' and the ''Free Press'' was the first in U.S. history in which both partners survived in print form and voluntarily chose to exit; in almost all other such partnerships, one of the partnering newspapers folded or ceased print publication. According to experts interviewed by those publications, the joint operating agreement was successful in preserving the two publications and their distinct editorial voices, and as a result of the agreement, Detroit remains one of the last large cities in the U.S. with two major newspapers of similar size and prominence.<ref name=":15" /><ref name=":8" /><ref name=":14" />
In mid-January, the new Sunday edition of the ''News'' was delayed indefinitely. On January 26, 2026, MediaNews Group announced that it would sell ''The Detroit News'' to USA Today Co., putting both papers under common ownership.<ref name=":22">{{Cite web |last=Shalhout|first=Fuad|date=2026-01-26|title=USA TODAY Co. to acquire The Detroit News, joining Detroit Free Press under one owner|url=https://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/2026/01/usa-today-co-to-acquire-the-detroit-news-joining-detroit-free-press-under-one-owner.html|access-date=2026-01-26|website=mlive|language=en}}</ref>
== Notes == <references group="lower-alpha" />
== References == {{reflist}}
== Further reading ==
* [https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/1989/88-1640_10-30-1989.pdf 1989 Supreme Court arguments on formation of joint operating agreement]
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090413033553/http://www.detroitmedia.com/ Official website of DMP] *[http://www.detroitnews.com The Detroit News] *[http://www.freep.com The Detroit Free Press]
Category:Companies based in Detroit Category:Newspaper companies of the United States Category:Gannett Category:MediaNews Group Category:Publishing companies established in 1987 Category:Detroit Free Press Category:Joint ventures Category:The Detroit News