Toledoβs oldest continuous business may soon print its final page.
Parent company Block Communications announced this week that it is actively exploring a sale of The Bladeβs assets. In an internal email to staff, leadership delivered a stark warning: if a buyer cannot be found, the newspaper will publish its final edition on December 31, 2026, shutting down both print and digital operations.
Jodi Miehls, president and chief operating officer of Block Communications, cited years of unsustainable financial pressure as the primary driver behind the move.
βThe Block Familyβs continued investment to keep the Blade open is no longer an option,β Miehls wrote to employees. βThe financial losses the Blade has endured for years are simply not sustainable.β
First established in 1835, The Blade has been a staple of Northwest Ohio reporting for nearly two centuries. Newspaper mogul Paul Block, Sr. took control of the outlet in August 1926, marking a century of family leadership under publishers John Robinson Block and Allan Block.
If the paper is forced to shutter, it will impact 119 current employees and leave Toledo without its primary legacy newsroom.
As reported by The Blade this morning.