Detroit Free Press

Along with The Detroit News, the Detroit Free Press is one of the two major metro Detroit newspapers. It is owned by Gannett. A winner of eight Pulitzer Prizes, the Free Press is the larger and more politically liberal of Detroit's two major dailies.

Related Topics:
The Detroit News - Metro Detroit - Newspaper - Gannett - Pulitzer Prize

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It was first published as the Democratic Free Press and Michigan Intelligencer on May 5, 1831. In 1940 it was sold to the Knight Newspapers (later Knight Ridder) chain.

Related Topics:
May 5 - 1831 - 1940 - Knight Ridder

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In 1989, the paper entered into a 100-year joint operating agreement with its rival, combining business operations while maintaining separate editoral staffs. The two papers also began to publish joint Saturday and Sunday editions, though the editorial content of each remained separate. At the time, the Detroit Free Press was the 10th highest circulation paper in the U.S., and the combined Detroit News and Free Press was the country's fourth-largest Sunday paper.

Related Topics:
1989 - Joint operating agreement

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On July 13, 1995, "Newspaper Guild"-represented employees of the Free Press and News and the pressmen, printers and Teamsters working for the "Detroit Newspapers" distribution arm went on strike. A handful of staffers crossed the picket line after a month, including Mitch Albom, but the majority stayed out for the two and a half years of the strike. The strike was resolved in court three years later, and the unions remain active at the paper, representing a majority of the employees under their jurisdiction.

Related Topics:
July 13 - 1995 - Mitch Albom

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In 1998, the Free Press vacated its former headquarters in downtown Detroit and moved to offices inside the News building.

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On August 3, 2005, Knight Ridder sold the Free Press to the Gannett company, which had previously owned and operated the News. The News, in turn, was sold to MediaNews Group; Gannett continues to be the managing partner in the papers' joint operating agreement.

Related Topics:
August 3 - 2005 - Gannett - MediaNews Group

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Known for decades to Detroiters as "the Freep," the paper's website is www.freep.com.

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