Washington Post’s Express Blames Cell Phones for Its Demise

Washington Post’s Express Blames Cell Phones for Its Demise

Express, the now-former weekday daily published by the Washington Post for Metro subway riders, ceased its print operation after 16 years — but not without a bang. 

“Hope you enjoy your stinkin’ phones,” the paper lambasted its soon-to-be former (and ostensibly disloyal) readership on the cover of its last and final issue. 

The Washington Post laid-off 20 staffers as part of the closure.

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The Washington Post wrote:

"Managers of The Post cited its deteriorating financial condition for the decision to cease publishing. Although they declined to cite specific figures, they said the printed paper had recently begun to lose money.

Colorful and lively, Express was designed to be a fast read for public-transit commuters each morning, especially people who didn’t subscribe to The Post. It featured eye-catching and sometimes cheeky cover illustrations that highlighted a single news story or trend, often one underplayed by The Post or ignored by TV newscasts."

Latest in Media Moves

The move marks the latest in a rapidly shifting media market — seeing print publications shuttered.

In August, Governing magazine announced it was closing. 

Pew Research reported last week that the share of Americans who prefer to get their news online is growing, nearly as many Americans prefer to get their local news online as prefer the TV —  and more Americans get news on social media than from print newspapers.

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