Media News

Dallas Morning News to be acquired by media company Hearst

Stack of Newspapers

Photo courtesy of VishwaGujarat.com

Dallas' daily newspaper The Dallas Morning News is to be acquired by New York-based Hearst, where it will join a portfolio of 28 daily and 50 weekly newspapers.

The announcement was made on July 10 by Steven R. Swartz, president and CEO of Hearst, and Grant Moise, CEO of DallasNews Corporation and publisher of The Dallas Morning News.

Hearst's portfolio includes ownership in cable television networks such as A&E, HISTORY, Lifetime, and ESPN; 35 television stations; newspapers across the U.S., including the Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle, and Times Union (Albany); digital services businesses; and more than 200 magazine editions around the world.

The transaction, which has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies, is expected to close during the third or early fourth quarter. It will also include Medium Giant, DallasNews’ marketing agency.

Upon closing, The Dallas Morning News will join Hearst Newspapers, the operating group responsible for Hearst’s newspapers, local digital marketing services businesses and directories, which publishes 28 dailies and 50 weeklies across the United States.

The acquisition of the DMN will give Hearst nearly a complete set of Texas newspapers: In addition to the Houston Chronicle, it also owns the Austin American Statesman and the San Antonio Express News, as well as smaller Texas newspapers such as the Plainview Herald, the Midland Reporter Telegram, the Laredo Morning Times, and the Beaumont Enterprise. The only one missing is the Fort Worth Star Telegram, which is owned by McClatchy.

Jeff Johnson, president of Hearst Newspapers, stated, “Hearst Newspapers is committed to supporting The Dallas Morning News’ continued success through smart investments in their digital strategy, compelling journalism and expanded audience reach. This move aligns squarely with our strategy of backing trusted, high-impact local media brands in growth markets. We’re looking forward to working with the teams at The News and Medium Giant.”

Robert W. Decherd, DallasNews Corporation’s former board chairman, president and chief executive officer during a career spanning 50 years, and current owner of a majority of the voting power of DallasNews Corporation stock, said, “The News’ 140-year commitment to distinguished journalism has been extraordinarily important to the evolution of Dallas as one of America’s greatest cities. We have generations of News employees to thank for this. I’m confident that the path forward with Hearst Newspapers assures The News’ ability to continue informing and strengthening North Texas for many years to come.”

DallasNews shareholders will receive $14 in cash for each share of common stock - a premium of 219% based on the closing price of DallasNews’ common stock of $4.39 per share on July 9, 2025. The deal is valued at $79 million, according to the DMN. Upon closing of the transaction, DallasNews Corporation will become a private company and its shares will no longer trade on Nasdaq.

media

Movie Review

Spider-Man: Brand New Day sets a new standard for comic book movies

Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures

Tom Holland in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Ever since Spider-Man became part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the character’s stand-alone movies have been notable for maintaining their own vision despite having to service the larger MCU storyline. The emotionality of the series reached its high point in No Way Home by bringing back two former Spider-Mans - Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield - to assist Tom Holland in a multiversal storyline.

The heart displayed in that film is superseded by Spider-Man: Brand New Day, in which Peter Parker (Holland) is now alone in the world following the events of the previous film. For years, he has done his best to stay busy by stopping in-progress crimes and checking in with Detective Jean DeWolff (Liza Colón-Zayas), but the twin traumas of losing Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) and forcing girlfriend MJ (Zendaya) and best friend Ned (Jacob Batolon) to forget him still weigh heavily on him.

Almost simultaneously, Peter starts experiencing a change in his physiology and is challenged by a new threat who has a power he does not know how to defeat. As he struggles with both of those things, he asks for help from a variety of sources, including Professor Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), Frank Castle, aka The Punisher (Jon Bernthal), and - despite not knowing who he is - MJ and Ned, who are now roommates in New York following their college years at MIT.

Directed by Dustin Daniel Cretton and written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers (who have written each of the Holland Spider-Man films), the movie has a near-perfect blend of comic book spectacle and small-scale intimacy. Spider-Man’s ability to swing through New York’s urban landscape with ease provides plenty of opportunities for great action sequences, but the character’s focus on keeping the streets safe and finding a way back to his friends makes the story still feel manageable.

This is aided by the decision to not go overboard with the MCU connections. Bruce Banner/Hulk and a member of the New Avengers show up, but in relatively small roles. The Punisher makes the leap from TV to the movies, and the interaction between him and Spider-Man feels organic. So too does the super-secret villain, whose impact is felt well before they ever show up on screen thanks to a power that is as mysterious as it is effective.

While the action is abundant in the film, the filmmakers lean on emotion much more than most other comic book movies. Peter’s journey back to a semblance of a normal life is well-earned, with his reconnection with MJ and Ned slow-walked in an admirably subtle way. And in the final act, when CGI battles typically take over, the interior lives of Peter and other characters play as much a role in what happens as anything they do physically.

Holland, who tends to take criticism for non-Spider-Man roles, remains the ideal actor for the role. His open-heartedness makes him relatable, his athleticism makes him believable, and he crushes the heavier moments. He and Zendaya, who are now married in real life, work tremendously well together, and Batalon is a fun third wheel. Other standouts include Bernthal, Colón-Zayas, Trammell Tillman, and Stranger Things’ Sadie Sink.

From beginning to end, Spider-Man: Brand New Day now owns the title as best movie in the current Spider-Man universe. By maintaining connections to past movies, solidly incorporating new characters, and pointing to the future without making it the whole story, it demonstrates a model for how comic book movies should be done.

---

Spider-Man: Brand New Day opens in theaters on July 31.

movies film