London Evening Standard Transitions to Weekly Editions Amid Circulation Decline
The London Evening Standard, a staple of the capital’s media landscape since 1827, has published its final daily edition as it prepares to transition to a weekly format. From next Thursday, the paper will rebrand as The London Standard, focusing on a single weekly publication. This shift comes after the phasing out of the Monday and Friday editions in early August, as reported by Press Gazette.
The London Evening Standard, which has been available free of charge since 2009, was particularly popular among London commuters. However, the changing dynamics of work habits and increased digital connectivity have significantly impacted its distribution, with daily circulation dropping from 850,000 to 275,000 over the past five years.
The decision to move to a weekly format was announced in May, and the newspaper’s parent company has also struck a deal with City AM, a free business-focused daily, to take over the Standard’s former distribution slots. Albert Read, Executive Chairman of the London Evening Standard, expressed optimism about the move, stating that the new weekly print publication aims to “set the bar high, reaching new readers, and reflecting the dynamism and excitement of London.”
This transition mirrors the strategic shift of its sister title, The Independent, which moved to a digital-only model in 2016 and has since experienced enduring growth in readership and commercial success. Despite the challenges, the Standard’s digital presence remains strong, with 12 million people accessing its digital platforms each month, half of which comes from outside London and overseas.
The Standard’s transformation is a reflection of the broader changes within the media industry, where traditional print publications are increasingly adapting to digital formats and new business models to sustain their relevance and reach.
For more insights into the decline of print newspaper circulation, check out this research study from Pew Research Center. Visit EyeOnLondon for more in-depth coverage and to explore how we offer a dynamic multimedia platform, combining news, video content, and digital storytelling.
