Michael E. Reed is the CEO of Gatehouse Media, the largest publisher of daily newspapers in the United States as measured by distinct publications. ¹ In 2019, Gatehouse Media merged with the mass media holding company Gannett. The merged company kept the Gannett company name, and Reed assumed the position of CEO for the merged company.

Political Contributions

In 2007, Reed contributed to U.S. Senator John Edwards (D-NC)’s presidential primary campaign. ²

Controversies

In 2015, critics raised questions of journalistic ethics and transparency when Reed sold the Las Vegas Review-Journal to News Media Investment Group, a Delaware-based firm that did not disclose its ownership. It was later revealed that Republican donor Sheldon Adelson was the owner of the News Media Investment Group. ³

The NewsGuild, an affiliate of the left-wing Communications Workers of America labor union, has been critical of Reed’s practice of purchasing newspapers, centralizing the editorial process, and reducing jobs to increase profits. ⁴

On October 30, 2020, Reed announced that Gannett will be providing another round of voluntary buyouts for staff across the company. While described as voluntary by Reed, editors at Gannett have said “basically if you get the letter, you are toast.” ⁵ Those who receive the letter typically receive a week of severance for each year of employment plus a bonus. ⁶

1. “Home.” GateHouse Media. Accessed October 29, 2020. http://www.GateHousemedia.com/
2. “Individual Contributions: Michael Reed:2007.” Federal Election Commission. Accessed October 29, 2020. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=Michael+Reed&contributor_employer=Gatehouse+Media
3. Hagey, Keach; and Gregory Zuckerman. “Sheldon Adelson Behind Purchase of LVRJ.” Wall Street Journal. December 16, 2015. Accessed October 29, 2020. https://www.wsj.com/articles/sheldon-adelson-behind-purchase-of-lvrj-1450319641
4. Ratcliffe, R.G. “New Media Buys the ‘Austin American-Statesman.’” Texas Monthly. March 6, 2018. Accessed October 29, 2020. https://www.texasmonthly.com/news/new-mediagatehouse-buys-the-statesman/
5. Edmonds, Rick. “Another round of voluntary buyouts is coming to Gannett newsrooms” Poynter. https://www.poynter.org/locally/2020/another-round-of-voluntary-buyouts-is-coming-to-gannett-newsrooms/
6. Edmonds, Rick. “Another round of voluntary buyouts is coming to Gannett newsrooms” Poynter. https://www.poynter.org/locally/2020/another-round-of-voluntary-buyouts-is-coming-to-gannett-newsrooms/