• by Ray Schultz , Columnist, Yesterday

The separation between Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News did not last long. 

USA Today Co., Inc., owner of Detroit Free Press, announced on Monday that it is acquiring The Detroit News less than a month after their joint operating agreement came to an end.

The terms were not disclosed, but USA Today Co. will finance the purchase in part with cash and with funds managed by its primary lender, Apollo Global Management. The deal is expected to close by the end of the month.

Despite the common ownership, the papers will operate separately, which means that Detroit will remain a two-newspaper town. 

“The acquisition of The Detroit News will be a strategic investment that strengthens the USA TODAY Network’s audience and its portfolio of more than 200 local publications nationwide and reinforces our commitment to local journalism in the Detroit metropolitan area,” says Michael Reed, chairman and chief executive officer of USA Today Co., formerly known as Gannett. 

“Welcoming The Detroit News fully to our network will enable the continued delivery of trusted, high-quality news and content to our audiences and advertisers in the region," Reed adds.

In 1989, a joint operating agreement between Free Press and The News was created to combine advertising, printing, and distribution services, although the publications remained independent. The agreement ended on December 28, 2025.

“Welcoming The Detroit News fully to our network will enable the continued delivery of trusted, high-quality news and content to our audiences and advertisers in the region,” says Reed in a statement. The acquisition “reinforces our commitment to local journalism in the Detroit metropolitan area.”