06/17/2025
Today, June 16, Gannett and Media News Group (MNG) announced that they will not renew the Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) between the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News.
The Free Press, owned by Gannett, and The Detroit News, owned by Media News Group, have been operating with joint business and operations since 1989. Gannett’s role as the majority partner has made it responsible for setting budgets that helped determine wages and benefits at both entities even as the editorial/news side of each organization has remained independent.
Starting at the beginning of 2026, however, the two entities will also operate independently on the business side, which includes advertising and operations.
The Newspaper Guild of Detroit, CWA Local 34022, represents journalists at both the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News and will continue to do so moving forward.
Union contracts at both the Free Press and News expired late last year, but for the first time in decades, the two entities refused joint bargaining.
The Free Press and Guild reached agreement in April on a two-year contract that includes wage increases for the first time in years, additional personal days and an earlier start for health care coverage for new hires while maintaining our pension, job security and other Guild-negotiated benefits.
The Guild is continuing to bargain with management at the News/MNG and remains committed to reaching an agreement that rewards the hard work of News journalists and protects our members.
MNG has said it is committed to the sustainability of The Detroit News and one of the clearest ways to demonstrate that commitment is by reaching a fair collective bargaining agreement.
Guild members at both the Free Press and News have a long history of bringing Detroit and Michigan quality, local journalism, and we intend to continue doing so through the remaining months of the Joint Operating Agreement and beyond.