Pittsburgh Newspapers

by

N.L. Perri III

Pittsburgh newspapers have seen a change over the years, . While there are some smaller community newspapers the two major Pittsburgh Newspapers that currently exist are the Pittsburgh Post Gazette and the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. The left leaning Post Gazette along side the more conservative right leaning Tribune Review provide a balance in printed news in Pittsburgh.

The Pittsburgh Post Gazette

As with other Pittsburgh Newspapers the Pittsburgh Post gazette has quite a long history being founded in 1786 as the Gazette. In the mid 1800's the paper was actually a conservative paper even credited with helping the election of Abraham Lincoln. Over the years the Pittsburgh Post Gazette saw quite a few name changes and mergers until eventually being bought by Paul Block and becoming the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.

The Pittsburgh Post Gazette’s main competition until the 1960’s was the Pittsburgh Press. In 61 the Post Gazette and the Press entered in to a joint agreement that kept both papers afloat. The Press became the morning paper and the Post Gazette became the afternoon paper. This arrangement worked well until the early 90’s.

In 1991 the teamsters contract with the Pittsburgh Press expired and negotiations soured, the workers organized a strike. The Press was forced to cease operations. Due to the joint agreement the Pittsburgh Post Gazette was also forced to cease printing. In the midst of the strike the Press was sold to the Block family, after labor disputes were resolved the Press was folded in to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. With the Press no longer existing the Post Gazette would have become the only major Pittsburgh newspaper. Enter the Pittsburgh edition of the Tribune Review an expansion of Richard Mellon Scaife’s Greensburg Tribune Review.

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

An expansion product of the Greensburg tribune review. The Tribune review was initially published in 1889, servicing the areas to the east of Pittsburgh. The Tribune Review was expanded to include a Pittsburgh Edition, during the labor dispute in the 1990’s that affected the Pittsburgh Press and Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Due to work stoppages there was not a Pittsburgh newspaper at the time. The Pittsburgh Tribune Review filled this need.

The Tribune Review is known for it’s political stance that leans a bit to the right, and it’s ownership by media mogul and philanthropist Richard Mellon Scaife (who is known for his support of conservative libertarian causes). Scaife purchased the Trib in 1970. Also of note is the papers investigational reporting.

The Future of Pittsburgh Newspapers

Both Pittsburgh newspapers have sustained major financial challenges over the last few years. The tribune review has been propped up by Richard Mellon Scaifes personal contributions to the paper of as much as $30 million annually . The Block family however does not seem interested in continuing to operate an enterprise that consistently loses money a position I think anyone in business can relate to.

I feel that there is a need for either side of the coin to be represented. Some may say there should be no bias in the media, but inevitably there is and always will be. The critics of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette say the paper is a left leaning liberal rag, the defenders of the Post Gazette can defend this stance by pointing out the liberal leanings of the typical citizens of Pittsburgh and surrounding counties. On the other side of the coin critics of the Tribune Review view the paper as an ultra conservative Republican propaganda machine, in defense fans of the Pittsburgh Tribune review may point out the papers true leanings are more libertarian and that there is indeed a large group in the Pittsburgh area whose voice also needs to be heard.


In this authors personal opinion I don’t feel the argument of non bias is defensible. I am a reader of both Pittsburgh Newspapers and find the truth somewhere in between. Unfortunately Both Pittsburgh newspapers have seen a significant decrease in readership in recent years. I sincerely hope that these Pittsburgh Newspapers can find a plan of sustainability that will keep them publishing for years to come.


N.L. Perri is a freelancer from the Pittsburgh area you can contact him here