The Struggle for Control of a Legacy Media Empire
A long-standing feud between twin brothers has escalated into a bitter legal battle over the future of Block Communications, a media empire that has been in their family for over a century. John Robinson Block and Allan Block, both 71, are at odds over whether to sell the company, which owns a range of print and broadcast outlets across Ohio.
The conflict began when John considered selling the company in 2023, prompting his brother Allan to respond with what he claimed was a threat. According to a 2024 court filing, Allan reportedly told John, “I will destroy you.” This statement has since become a focal point of the dispute.
Block Communications has already taken steps to scale back its operations. Last summer, it sold its TV station group for $80 million, pending regulatory approval. In December, the company closed the Pittsburgh City Paper, an alternative weekly focused on local news, dining reviews, arts, and entertainment. The decision came amid financial concerns.
Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is set to stop being published in May, raising serious questions about the future of Block Communications. In an interview, Allan expressed uncertainty about the company’s direction, stating, “I think we’ll likely be a seller at some point.” He added, “That was never what I wanted. It’s not what my father, grandfather or uncle wanted.”
A Family Legacy Under Threat
Allan claims he opposed the sale because he believed the timing was wrong and felt excluded from the process. He also denied making any threats against his brother, insisting that he treats him with affection. “I would like to have a relationship with my brother,” he said. “It’s awful.”
Block Communications traces its roots back to 1900 when the twins’ grandfather, Paul Block, founded the company in New York. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was created under its current form in 1927. The second generation of the media empire was led by the twins’ father, Paul Block Jr., and his brother William Block, who expanded the business further.
Allan has served as chairman and CEO of Block Communications since February 1980, according to his LinkedIn profile. He focused on cable, television, and telecom operations while managing the business side of the newspapers. John has been the publisher and editor-in-chief of the company’s newspapers since 1987, according to a public LinkedIn profile.
Financial Challenges and Legal Disputes
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has suffered significant financial losses over the past two decades, losing more than $350 million. Combined revenue at the Post-Gazette and The Toledo Blade fell by 87 percent during that time.
After John started exploring the possibility of selling Block Communications, Allan filed a breach-of-contract suit in May 2024. The filing, viewed by the Daily Mail, referenced an incident in February 2019 where John allegedly “demeaned and threatened staff” at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette newsroom. During this episode, John screamed at his teen daughter, according to the suit.
The complaint described how John’s daughter was “visibly terrified” by her father’s conduct. Four eyewitness accounts corroborated the incident, including one from web editor Marianne Mizera. She wrote that John was “very angry and irate” when he entered the newsroom around 10pm. “It was clear he was intoxicated,” she noted.
Mizera described how John “shouted that he wanted a picture of himself and his daughter taken” in front of a sign that read “Shame on the Blocks.” “He fervently demanded the photos be taken NOW, right away and forcefully grabbed his daughter’s forearm, pulling her into the picture as she tried her best to pull away from him,” she wrote. John’s daughter was allegedly “crying, shaking and pleading with her father that she did NOT want to be in ANY photograph.”
Another account by night cops reporter Andrew Goldstein stated that John was “screaming in his daughter’s face about the Block family legacy.” “Do you want to be high class or low class? You’re a Block, you’re one of us!” John allegedly said. “You have to learn how to lead!”
A Settled Dispute, Uncertain Future
John responded to Allan’s accusations in his own legal filing, claiming that his twin brother was blocking the company from being sold for its full value. The suit was eventually settled, leading to Allan’s reinstatement as CEO but not as chairman.
The Daily Mail has reached out to John Robinson Block and Allan Block for comment. As the future of Block Communications remains uncertain, the ongoing legal battle highlights the deep divisions within the family and the challenges facing traditional media in the digital age.
