Distinctly Modern Demise for Oldest Newspaper

The Swedes, who jumped into the newspaper game back in 1645, are taking another great leap forward: what is said to be the oldest newspaper in the world has gone digital and is now available online, and online only. The PoIT, which began in 1645, published its last print issue on Dec. 29 but is continuing on the Internet.

The World Association of Newspapers says that the country’s Post och Inrikes Tidningar, or PoIT, is the world’s oldest newspaper still in publication. Its new editor, Roland Haegglund, is its only employee.

“The change in format is of course a major departure, for some possibly a little sad, but it is also a natural step,” Mr. Haegglund told Agence France-Presse, which first reported the story.

The paper was founded by Queen Christina and her chancellor. Sweden was engaged in the Thirty Years’ War at the time and had devoted much of its treasury to the war, causing widespread misery at home; Hans Holm, the last editor of PoIT’s print version, told the agency that the newspaper was a way of explaining to citizens where their taxes were going.

The paper was and remains the official organ of the Swedish government. It thrived during the 17th and 18th centuries, covering foreign and domestic news. But as competition grew, PoIT stopped covering news and instead carried announcements by financial, legal and corporate institutions. The final print version, published Dec. 29, had only 1,500 subscribers.

Christina, who became queen at age 5 although she did not receive her coronation until she was 18, helped found the newspaper when she was 19, amid much court intrigue and a chaotic romantic life. If only the paper were online then, she could have blogged about it.

It is not in English, but you can view it at https://poit.bolagsverket.se/KPNPublikWeb/