World's oldest newspaper goes out of print

On New Year's Day an era came to a close as the world's oldest newspaper went out of print.

• Technology defeats tradition for world's oldest newspaper (28 Jan 07)

Post- och Inrikes Tidningar (Post and Domestic Newspapers) has been churning out announcements since 1645. But from now on, following a parliamentary decree, the newspaper will only be available online.

In 1645 Queen Kristina and her advisor, Axel Oxenstierna, were urged by the state to ward off rumour-mongers by starting a newspaper to cover foreign events from a Swedish perspective.

At the end of the eighteenth century Gustaf III awarded the Swedish Academy the right to publish the newspaper. This principle still holds firm today, with the Academy's permanent secretary Horace Engdahl currently holding the position of editor.

Post- och Inrikes Tidningar is the official organ of Sweden. It is also unique in that it is the country's only source of nationwide public announcements, such as bankruptcies, debt rescheduling and executive auctions, according to the newspaper's home page.

As of January 1 the newspaper will be published on the Swedish Companies Registration Office website.