by Rex Wockner
International News Briefs
The venerable British gay newspaper Pink Paper ceased publication June 24 due to falling ad revenue.
However, no one was laid off by the company, which also publishes the glossy monthly magazines Gay Times and Diva, and the Pink Paper will continue to publish at pinkpaper.com.
"The publishers hope to start printing the newspaper again when the economy recovers and the advertising market improves," said Editor Tris Reid-Smith. "This time last year it was a very successful business but since then organizations have slashed their spend on print advertising, meaning the paper has been unable to cover its costs."
Veteran British campaigner Peter Tatchell called the announcement "a big blow to the lesbian and gay community."
"Although the online version will remain, it is no substitute for the fortnightly paper, which reached many people who are either not online or who enjoyed the portability of the printed version," Tatchell said. "Without the Pink Paper, the lesbian and gay community is likely to become more fragmented and isolated, with people in one part of the country being much less aware about what is happening in other parts of the country."
(Reporter Rex Wockner is a regular paid contributor to the Millivres Prowler Group publications mentioned in this report.)
