A newspaper has ceased publishing weekly after seven months – declaring the “job is done” in terms of growing the title’s brand.

The National Wales has announced the move in order to “focus on growing our digital audience”, launching a new app and a weekly email newsletter called The Edition in place of its regular print product.

However, the Newsquest-owned title says it will revert to a “pop-up” model in print, which saw it run irregular special editions before it went weekly.

The National Wales launched its weekly edition, creating four jobs in the process, after sales of two special print editions “exceeded expectations” following its establishment as a primarily digital-driven news service for the country in March.

The decision comes days after the title was a finalist in the newsawards Weekly Newspaper of the Year category, won by the Cambridge Independent.

In a piece explaining the move, editor Gavin Thompson, pictured, wrote: “Our plan from the outset was to grow a largely subscriber-funded digital news service for Wales.

“We launched with a print edition initially as a way to highlight the digital launch, following it with a special edition ahead of the May Senedd contest.

“The popularity of those two editions persuaded us to take the title weekly to help us grow The National as a brand.

“Now that job is done, we’re stopping the weekly edition in print.”

Gavin went on to tell readers that editing a weekly national newspaper “has been an absolute joy”.

He added: “As someone who has worked in the news media for more than two decades, I’ve been particularly proud that we have introduced many new readers to a physical newspaper for the first time.

“We still see print as part of the future of The National and we’ll announce our plans for that in the New Year.

“I know those of you who love print will be disappointed not to be able to pick up a copy at your local newsagent or supermarket every week. I understand.

“If you believe in what we do, or enjoy the journalism we produce, please become an online subscriber.”

HTFP understands no jobs have been affected by the change.