Pittsburgh Alternative Paper Permanently Shuts Down

PITTSBURGH, PA — Barely two months after the Pittsburgh City Paper halted its print edition in a last-ditch effort to survive, the alternative news weekly has announced its permanent closure.

The paper revealed its fate on social media Wednesday.

"It's been a ride. 34 years," a post stated. "We wish you a happy New Year, we're just sad we won't see you on the other side."

Staffers also commented on the paper's demise.

"Well folks, some news. Ownership is folding @pghcitypaper.com," news editor Colin Williams wrote in a Bluesky post. "I wish I could say this was more surprising."

In October, executive editor Ali Trachta stated in a message to readers that the paper would cease its print edition save for four "super-issues" annually, but would maintain an active online presence.

City Paper is owned by a subsidiary of Block Communications, which also owns the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Block also owns The Toledo Blade and several TV stations.

The Block subsidiary acquired City Paper three years ago from Eagle Media, the publisher of the Butler Eagle, which had operated the weekly tabloid and its digital site since 2016.