The paper was sold twice over the next few years, eventually being bought by George McConnelly, who changed it from a weekly to a daily newspaper in 1883.

The paper was sold twice again, and in 1902 Howard H. Fitzgerald purchased it and merged it with the Flint Globe, changing its name to the Fling Daily Journal.

In 1911 Fitzgerald sold it to George Gough Booth, then president of the Detroit News and owner of many other Michigan newspapers.

Flint grew enormously at the beginning of the twentieth century, providing an increasing number of subscribers for the Journal.

[3] At the same time, Michigan State University was looking to expand its medical education and public health programs in Flint.

The old Flint Journal Building was purchased by Uptown Reinvestment in 2013, who rehabilitated the structure and leased it to MSU.