Local media empire spat turns nasty between two heir brothers as one fights to sell centuries-old business for millions: 'I will destroy you'

By WILKO MARTÍNEZ-CACHERO, US REPORTER Published: 01:20, 6 April 2026 | Updated: 01:20, 6 April 2026 A bitter feud between twin heirs has erupted over the future of a centuries-old family media empire because one of them thought about selling it for millions of dollars. John Robinson Block and Allan Block, 71, have been embroiled in an intense blood rivalry over the direction of Block Communications, a private company in Ohio that owns a myriad of print and broadcast media outlets. John looked into selling the company in 2023, prompting his twin brother to allegedly push back with a clear threat. 'I will destroy you,' Allan, the chairman and chief executive officer of Block Communications, told him, according to a 2024 court filing cited by the Wall Street Journal. The company has already started scaling back, selling its TV station group last summer for $80 million, pending regulatory approval. It also closed the Pittsburgh City Paper, an alternative weekly focusing on local news, dining reviews, arts and entertainment, in December, because of financial concerns. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette will stop being published in May, putting the future of Block Communications in serious doubt. 'I think we'll likely be a seller at some point,' Allan told the outlet on Sunday. 'That was never what I wanted. It's not what my father, grandfather or uncle wanted.' Twin brothers John Robinson Block (left) and Allan Block (second right), 71, are involved in a feud over the future of their media empire, Block Communications Allan (pictured) told his brother 'I will destroy you' when he brought up the possibility of selling Block Communications, according to a 2024 court filing  John has served as the publisher and editor-in-chief of the company's newspapers since 1987, according to his LinkedIn profile Allan explained that he opposed a sale because he disagreed with the timing and felt like he was being sidelined from the selling process. He added that he had not threatened his twin brother, claiming that he treated him with affection. 'I would like to have a relationship with my brother,' Allan said. 'It's awful.' Block Communications' history stretches back to 1900, when the twins' grandfather Paul Block, a German immigrant and advertising executive, founded the company in New York. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was subsequently created under its current iteration in 1927. The second generation of the media empire was led by the twins' father, Paul Block Jr., and his brother William Block, who continued expanding Block Communications. Allan began serving as chairman and CEO of Block Communications in February 1980, according to his LinkedIn profile. He focused on cable, television and telecom operations and was in charge of the business side of the newspapers. John has served as the publisher and editor-in-chief of the company's newspapers since 1987, according to a public LinkedIn profile. John was allegedly involved in a February 2019 outburst in which he stormed into the Post-Gazette newsroom late at night while 'clearly intoxicated' and yelled at his daughter  The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has lost more than $350 million over the last 20 years and will no longer be published after next month The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has lost more than $350 million over the last 20 years. Combined revenue at the Post-Gazette and The Toledo Blade fell by 87 percent during that time span. After John started looking into selling Block Communications, Allan filed a breach-of-contract suit in May 2024. The filing in the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas viewed by the Daily Mail mentioned an episode in February 2019 during which John allegedly' demeaned and threatened staff' at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette newsroom. He screamed at at his teen daughter as he did this, according to the suit. 'John Block's minor daughter, who was present during this disturbing "tirade," was 'visibly terrified' by her father's conduct,' the complaint read. The alleged outburst described in the suit was corroborated to the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh by four eyewitness accounts. Web editor Marianne Mizera wrote that John 'very angry and irate' when he entered the newsroom around 10pm. 'It was clear he was intoxicated,' Mizera wrote. In his own court filing, John said that his twin brother was impeding Block Communications from fulfilling its full monetary value. The lawsuit was eventually settled She 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,' Mizera wrote. John's daughter was allegedly 'crying, shaking and pleading with her father that she did NOT want to be in ANY photograph.' Another written account by night cops reporter Andrew Goldstein said 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!' John fought back against Allan's accusations in his own legal filing, claiming that his twin brother was not allowing the company to be sold for its full value. The suit was eventually settled, causing Allan to be reinstated as CEO but not as chairman. The Daily Mail has reached out to John Robinson Block and Allan Block for comment. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. 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