The Baltimore Sun

U.S. right-center (shifted right under 2024 ownership change)

Background

The Baltimore Sun was founded on May 17, 1837, by printer Arunah Shepherdson Abell and two partners, making it one of the oldest continuously published daily newspapers in the United States. It remained under local family ownership for nearly 150 years until 1986, when the Abell family sold it to Times-Mirror Company (owner of the Los Angeles Times) for $600 million. Tribune Company acquired Times-Mirror in 2000, and the Sun became part of Tribune Publishing in 2014. In May 2021, the hedge fund Alden Global Capital — known for aggressive newsroom cost-cutting — acquired Tribune Publishing for roughly $633 million, briefly placing the Sun under that ownership. Alden sold the Sun to David D. Smith and Armstrong Williams in January 2024, marking its return to local ownership for the first time since 1986. The new owners quickly sparked controversy: the opinion section added conservative voices including Williams himself, the paper began republishing stories from Sinclair-owned Fox45, and the newsroom union reported that at least 19 staff members resigned, were laid off, or were fired amid disputes over editorial standards and language choices. Historically, the Sun leaned center-left and was known for sharp criticism of the Trump administration during his first term; under Smith and Williams, its editorial orientation has moved noticeably rightward.

Sources

1. The Baltimore Sun purchased by Sinclair's David D. Smith — Baltimore Sun
2. One year after Sinclair's David Smith bought Baltimore Sun, union looks back — Baltimore Brew
3. A rare newspaper war was brewing in Baltimore. Then a billionaire owner began meddling. — Poynter
4. Baltimore Fights the Right-Wing Takeover of The Baltimore Sun — Rolling Stone
5. Baltimore Sun's new owner sparks concerns over editorial influence — Scripps News
6. Baltimore Sun — Bias and Credibility — Media Bias/Fact Check
7. The Baltimore Sun — Wikipedia
8. Baltimore Sun new owner David Smith Sinclair — NPR
9. Vulture Fund Alden Global, Known For Slashing Newsrooms, Buys Tribune Papers — NPR

Profile compiled 2026-09-03; refreshed when ownership, funding, or the administration changes.

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