Citing the growth of Wi-Fi access on the Metrorail in Washington, D.C., the Washington Post has abruptly ended publication of Express, a free paper that has been a staple of commuters in the nation’s capital for the past 16 years.
Thursday marked the last day the paper was published, and its final edition sarcastically blared the headline “Hope you enjoy your stinkin’ phones.”
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The tabloid, available at free newspaper boxes around the city and handed out by workers near Metro stations, had a circulation of about 130,000 copies per day, a number that has declined from a peak of 190,000 in 2007.
The newspaper, with colorful front pages, contained a combination of news, feature stories, and opinion columns.
In a blog post, the news outlet said that the publication’s demise was due to the growth of Wi-Fi access, allowing consumers to more easily get news from their phones rather than print.
“More and more readers are consuming The Post’s content digitally, and The Post will continue to serve those who commute via Metro with digital products, including its mobile site, apps, newsletters and podcasts,” the announcement reads.
Those who read Express will be offered a free 60-day trial of digital access to the Washington Post. The publication’s staff of 20 journalists will reportedly be laid off.
[Also read: Fishwrap: 33,000 newsroom jobs slashed, newspapers the last choice for news]
The Washington Post has killed off Express, its free daily, citing decreased readership since the DC Metro added wi-fi. Here’s the cover of its final issue. pic.twitter.com/8xX3d3e1Wm
— Laurel Wamsley (@laurelwamsley) September 12, 2019
