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Digital-only move sparks ‘oldest newspaper’ debate

A 279-year-old shipping title’s decision to go digital only has provoked a lively debate over what is the world’s oldest newspaper.

Lloyd’s List, founded in 1734, announced on Wednesday that it will cease its print edition from December and go online only from next year.

The move has been covered by various news outlets as marking the end of print publication by the “world’s oldest continuously published newspaper.”

But this has sparked a backlash from regional news chiefs who have pointed out that Berrow’s Worcester Journal is more than 40 years older.

One of the reports covering the decision of Lloyd's List to go online only this week

The Journal was first published in 1690 as the Worcester Post-Man and although it appeared irregularly to begin with, it has been published each week since 1709.

A Swedish newspaper called Post-och Inrikes Tidningar – the Post and Domestic Times – is allegedly older, having first appeared in 1645, but since 2007 it has only been published online.

John Wilson, deputy group editor of Newsquest Midlands South which now owns the Journal, said:  “We’re very proud to publish the world’s oldest continuously published newspaper here in Worcester, and always defend its position in history against rival claims.

“While it is always sad to see a historic newspaper such as Lloyd’s List cease print publication, it is a mere youngster compared with the Journal.”

Lloyd’s management have cited declining interest in the print edition as the impetus behind the move, with a recent reader survey showing less than 2pc relied solely on the print edition for access to the newspaper’s content.

Editor Richard Meade said: “The overwhelming majority of our customers choose the capabilities of digital over print.

“The digital approach offers new avenues and opportunities to innovate an up-to-the-minute service that offers in-depth news and information on every aspect of shipping as well as unrivalled market intelligence and data provision which can be tailored to suit our readers’ needs.”