Denver Post's bold rebellion exposes deep rifts in Alden's newspaper empire
A rebellion is brewing within Alden Global Capital's newspaper empire. The Denver Post published a scathing editorial in early 2026, condemning its owner's business practices and urging the hedge fund to sell the paper. The move has sparked mixed reactions across Alden's vast network of publications. The company, through its MediaNews Group portfolio, now controls around 200 newspapers, including major titles like the San Jose Mercury News and the Boston Herald. Yet only a handful of its papers have openly backed the Post's call for change. The Denver Post's editorial board took an unusual step by publicly criticising Alden without warning the company or even the paper's top editor. Chuck Plunkett, the Post's editorial page editor, orchestrated the piece, which included a direct plea for action from other Alden-owned newspapers. Reactions within the chain have varied. The Berkshire Eagle reprinted the editorial but added a note about its own shift to local ownership in 2016. The Sentinel in Santa Cruz also published the Post's piece in full. Meanwhile, the Bay Area News Group's executive editor, Neil Chase, wrote a column supporting the Post's stance. Other editors took a more cautious approach. Frank Pine, who leads the Southern California News Group, acknowledged the editorial had forced a needed discussion about journalism's future. Some papers simply ran Associated Press reports on the revolt. Many of Alden's daily and weekly titles, however, stayed silent. Senior editors at several Alden-owned newspapers held private discussions about how to respond. Yet most chose not to join the Post's public campaign. The Denver Post's bold move has exposed divisions within Alden's media holdings. While a few papers echoed its criticism, the majority remained quiet. The outcome of this rare internal challenge to Alden's leadershipâand whether it prompts broader changeâremains uncertain.
