Baltimore Sun bought by Sinclair TV stations chairman who sees public interest and profitability

The Baltimore Sun, among the country's oldest and most respected daily newspapers, has been purchased by David Smith, the executive chairman of the media conglomerate Sinclair Inc., returning the paper to local ownership. 

Smith bought the Baltimore Sun Media from the investment firm Alden Global Capital in a private deal reached Friday for an undisclosed price, the Associated Press reports Tuesday. 

Like other major dailies, The Sun over roughly the past two decades has lost readership and staff as news moved online and publishing local news became less profitable and attractive to advertisers. 

Smith reportedly bought the paper with his own assets independently of Sinclair, which owns local television news stations across the country, the wire service also reports. 

"I'm in the news business because I believe … we have an absolute responsibility to serve the public interest," Smith told the Sun. "I think the paper can be hugely profitable and successful and serve a greater public interest over time."

Smith says he'll focus on local news and investigations, and he plans to use video and social media to attract new subscribers. He will meet with staff Tuesday.

Alden bought the paper in 2021 as part of a $633 million purchase of the Chicago-based Tribune Publishing newspaper company.

Baltimore Sun Media has won 16 Pulitzer Prizes. The newspaper was founded in 1837 and has since become the largest newspaper in Maryland.