Austin American-Statesman
U.S. center-left
Background
Founded in 1871 (through the merger of two earlier Austin papers), the Statesman is one of Texas's oldest newspapers. Cox Enterprises owned it for decades before selling it to GateHouse Media in 2018; GateHouse merged with Gannett in 2019, making Gannett the owner. In February 2025, Gannett sold the paper to Hearst Communications, which completed the acquisition that March and has since expanded the newsroom by roughly 30%, reversing years of Gannett-era cost-cutting and staff reductions. The paper resumed presidential endorsements in 2020 after a long hiatus, generally favoring Democratic candidates, and its editorial board describes itself as valuing transparency and fact-based reasoning over ideology. Media watchdogs rate its news reporting as factually reliable with a left-leaning editorial page. It remains Austin's paper of record for local government, business, and University of Texas sports coverage, operating within Hearst's newspaper group alongside other regional dailies.
Sources
- Austin American-Statesman
- Hearst acquires Austin American-Statesman from Gannett
- Gannett Announces Asset Purchase Agreement With Hearst
- One year in: A stronger Statesman takes shape under Hearst
- Austin American-Statesman - Bias and Credibility
Profile compiled 2026-10-03; refreshed when ownership, funding, or the administration changes.