Sweden’s Post och Inrikes Tidningar, known as the worlds oldest newspaper has ended publication of its print edition and will be available only online. The paper has become more of a government bulletin and has not reported news stories for over a hundred years.
The paper was founded in 1645 by Queen Christina and was popular in Sweden in the late 17th and 18th centuries. The World Association of Newspapers still acknowledges PoIT as the world’s oldest still in publication despite the lack of news stories.
Competition from other newspapers saw PoIT’s readership drop and the publication became focused on announcements from publicly listed companies as well as financial and legal businesses.
The online format launched on January 1. PoIT is the official news organ of the Swedish government, a role it has had under law since the 17th century. “The change in format is of course a major departure, for some possibly a little sad, but it is also a natural step,” PoIT’s new editor-in-chief Roland Haegglund told AFP.
Haegglund sees the move online as a way to broaden the exposure of the paper. “It will definitely widen our readership. Now anyone with Internet access can read PoIT free of charge, you couldn’t just chance upon the print version. Now everyone has the chance to be informed,” said Haegglund the only full-time employee of the paper since its incorporation into Bolagsverket, the Swedish Companies Registration Office.
The main subscribers to the paper are banks, courts, lawyers, libraries, and local and national agencies. The reason for moving online was to reduce cost and was decided by Sweden’s justice ministry.
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Mike is a staff writer for Murdok. Visit Murdok for the latest ebusiness news.
