Detroit News, Free Press End 36-Year Joint Operating Agreement

The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press will end their 36-year Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) at the end of 2025, marking a return to fully independent operations for both papers. Since 1989, the JOA combined business functions like advertising, printing, and distribution while keeping editorial newsrooms separate and competitive, allowing both papers to survive in a challenging industry. Gannett, which owns the Free Press and a majority stake in the partnership, announced the decision not to renew the agreement, citing the changing media landscape and the opportunity for The Detroit News to collaborate more closely with its suburban sister papers. The JOA was initially established under the Newspaper Preservation Act to prevent the closure of the Free Press, which was struggling financially at the time. Both papers will now operate independently, with the Free Press continuing its seven-day print edition and strong digital presence, while The News plans to leverage local sister publications for business operations. This dissolution leaves only one remaining joint operating agreement in the U.S., located in Las Vegas, and reflects broader shifts in the newspaper industry.