Express, a tabloid published by The Washington Post and distributed for free in the Washington metropolitan area, especially for Metro commuters, has shut down, after 16 years of publication.
The daily’s issue that came out Thursday, September 12, was its final one, according to The Washington Post, which explained in its report that the decision was due to the its worsening financial situation. It reportedly had started losing money recently, after its circulation declined.
Two years ago, Express became the daily with the second highest circulation in the District, following The Post. More than 200,000 residents received the paper per day back then. It largely included short versions of articles that were run by its sister paper.
It had been given out free of charge every morning on weekdays through newspaper hawkers at Metro stations and newspaper boxes, since 2003.
The Washington Post will cease publication of its Express commuter paper. The last edition will be Thursday, September 12. https://t.co/WQoVTE4a6E
— Washington Post PR (@WashPostPR) September 11, 2019
Express was produced at The Washington Post‘s office on Franklin Square in D.C. after 2010. Previously it was based in an office in Arlington, Virginia.
After the shut down of the daily’s print edition, The Washington Post will be offering its readers a chance of unlimited free access to the main outlet’s digital content for 60 days, as a trial.
Speaking to ABC7, some Metro commuters expressed their disappointment on the news, saying they like holding a physical copy of their newspaper, while others stated they were not affected.