San Juan, Sept 23:
Two of Puerto Rico’s biggest newspapers will end their print editions this week and move to digital-only operations, marking another significant shift in the global newspaper industry from print to online publishing.
GFR Media, the Puerto Rican company that publishes El Nuevo Dia and Primera Hora, announced that the decision was driven by changing consumer habits and the growing importance of digital news consumption.
Primera Hora will publish its final print edition on September 24, while El Nuevo Dia will print its final newspaper on September 27.
Maria Luisa Ferre Rangel, publisher of GFR Media, said the company would continue to evolve with Puerto Rico and serve its readers wherever they are located.
The company said its digital platforms would become the primary means of reaching its audience after the end of the print editions.
The move reflects a broader transformation in the newspaper industry, with declining print circulation, changing reader habits and the growth of smartphones and digital platforms prompting publishers around the world to reconsider traditional print operations.
It was not immediately clear how many employees could be affected by the decision. A spokesperson for GFR Media said the company had no additional comment beyond its official statement.
The two newspapers have been important sources of news for Puerto Rican readers for decades. Their move to digital-only publishing marks a significant change in the island’s media landscape and illustrates the continuing pressure on traditional print newspapers to adapt to changing patterns of news consumption.