One of the world’s oldest newspapers has ended its daily print run after more than three centuries.
The Vienna-based Wiener Zeitung distributed its last edition on Friday after 320 years in print.
First published under the name Wiennerisches Diarium, the paper set out to provide a sober account of the news “without any oratory or poetic gloss” when it was launched on August 8, 1703.
“320 years, 12 presidents, 10 emperors, 2 republics, 1 newspaper,” the print edition's final front page read.
The Wiener Zeitung, which is owned by the Austrian government but editorially independent, suffered a sharp decrease in revenue after a recent law dropped a requirement for companies to pay to publish changes to the commercial registry in the print edition.
The newspaper was forced to cut 63 jobs and reduce its editorial staff by almost two-thirds to 20.
It will continue to operate online and plans a monthly print edition.
The final print edition carried an interview with Arnold Schwarzenegger, one of Austria’s most famous exports.
Wiener Zeitung has been used by the Austrian Government for legally-required announcements, such as company registrations, laws and executive orders.
In April, it had a circulation of around 20,000 on weekdays and twice as much on weekends.
EU Commission Vice-President Vera Jourova told Austrian news agency APA that she was “not happy with the situation” at the newspaper.
“I think the Wiener Zeitung played a good role in informing people over the years”.
The title of the world’s oldest daily newspaper now belongs to the Hildesheim, in Germany. The first edition was published on June 24, 1705.
