End of the Asahi English Print Edition

[Mulboyne]

Journalist Justin Norrie has sent the following Tweet:

The Asahi Shimbun's English-language printed edition will end on Feb. 28. After that it's all iPad and Kindle. No word on jobs yet.

He adds that the Asahi English website is likely to remain and the International Herald Tribune, who partner with the Asahi, will continue to use the presses to put out their own paper without the 5 pages or so of local content currently included. The spotlight now moves to the Daily Yomiuri English edition and the Japan Times where the economics of publishing a daily must be raising similar questions.

[FG Lurker]

I'm guessing that the Japan Times will fold next and that the Daily Yomiuri will struggle on as Japan's only English language newspaper. I stopped subscribing to them years and years ago, I guess I should start again though. Not possible to have journalism if no one is willing to pay for it.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Sad day, but the only unexpected thing about this decision is why it took so long.
JT and the DY can't be far away now.
RIP to the Asahi English version.
I wonder how long any of these places are going to maintain an English website presence? My guesses have all proved wrong, but surely these companies can't afford to continue throwing away hundreds of millions of yen every year in this day and age?

[Fullback]

I doubt that all English language papers will close. There was never enough advertising yen available to support them all.

I wouldn't say that any of them exhibited much "journalism." The writing and content seems pretty pathetic to me. But, I guess I'm just a demanding SOB.

There is better content here. Hell, they don't even have J-Babes . . .

[Taro Toporific]

... the International Herald Tribune, who partner with the Asahi, will continue to use the presses to put out their own paper without the 5 pages or so of local content currently included...

I suspect that the International Herald Tribune can make money with "boutique" press runs of less than 2,000. If all the engrish newspapers folded, the IHT could just buy cheap-n-crappy local filler from Kyodo Press like JapanToday does now. Printing limited runs to just fill needs of the big hotels, airlines and a handful of "international" news stands would not take anymore effort than keeping open the Asahi English website.

[Doctor Stop]

The Asahi Shimbun's English-language printed edition will end on Feb. 28.

Asahi Shimbun has an English-language printed edition?

[FG Lurker]

Asahi Shimbun has an English-language printed edition?

That was actually my first reaction too as I thought it folded years ago. Then I remembered it became the IHT with a bit of Asahi local news added in.