Hearst to acquire The Dallas Morning News in $74.9 million deal

The Dallas Morning News, one of the last major family-owned newspapers in the US, has been sold to Hearst for $74.9 million.

The deal, approved unanimously by both companies’ boards, will see shareholders of DallasNews Corporation receive $14 per share in cash, a 219% premium on the company’s closing price before the announcement. The transaction is expected to close in the third or early fourth quarter of 2025.

Founded in 1885, the Morning News has been a fixture in Texas journalism, with a legacy of Pulitzer-winning investigative reporting and deep local ties. Its sale to Hearst, a media conglomerate, ends more than a century of local ownership and reflect the ongoing consolidation of US newspapers under large corporate banners.

Once complete, the paper will join Hearst Newspapers’ growing Texas portfolio, which includes the Houston Chronicle, San Antonio Express-News and Austin American-Statesman, which were acquired earlier this year. The move gives Hearst a dominant presence in all of Texas’s largest cities, with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram now the only major daily in the state not under its control.

Hearst said the acquisition aligns with its strategy to invest in trusted local news brands and expand their digital and audience capabilities. Jeff Johnson, president of Hearst Newspapers, said the company would provide resources to strengthen the Morning News and support its editorial mission.

Just last week, Colleen McCain Nelson was announced as the new executive editor of the Morning News.
Grant Moise, CEO of DallasNews Corporation and publisher of the Morning News, said Hearst shared the paper’s values around accountability journalism and public service, and would help the newsroom “flourish for decades to come.”

In 2023 the paper cut 40 jobs, part of a wider trend of staff reductions across local news. But its financials remain solid, with more cash than debt and positive cash flow – giving Hearst a stable platform to build on.
The deal will take DallasNews Corporation private and end its Nasdaq listing.

Source: Noah Wire Services

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score:
10

Notes:
The narrative is fresh, with the acquisition announced on July 10, 2025, and no prior reports found. The earliest known publication date of similar content is July 10, 2025. The report is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were identified. The article includes updated data and does not recycle older material.

Quotes check

Score:
10

Notes:
The direct quotes from Jeff Johnson and Grant Moise are unique to this report, with no earlier usage found. This suggests potentially original or exclusive content.

Source reliability

Score:
10

Notes:
The narrative originates from a reputable organisation, DallasNews Corporation, and is corroborated by multiple reputable outlets, including the Houston Chronicle and Investing.com. This strengthens the credibility of the information.

Plausability check

Score:
10

Notes:
The claims about the acquisition are plausible and supported by multiple reputable sources. The narrative includes specific factual anchors, such as the acquisition price of $14 per share, the 219% premium, and the expected closing date in the third or early fourth quarter of 2025. The language and tone are consistent with typical corporate communications, and there is no excessive or off-topic detail.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary:
The narrative passes all checks with high scores, indicating it is fresh, original, and from a reliable source. The plausibility of the claims is well-supported by specific details and corroborated by multiple reputable outlets.