Independent newspaper to cease publication

Print versions of The Independent and the Independent on Sunday newspapers are to close next month after three decades, their owner has confirmed. They will maintain a presence online.

"We will be the first of many leading newspapers to embrace a wholly digital future," said Evgeny Lebedev.

"The newspaper industry is changing and that change is being driven by readers. They're showing us that the future is digital," added the Russian billionaire.

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The Independent was launched by a group of journalists in 1986, with the slogan: "The Independent: it is - are you?" and has become well-known for its hard-hitting covers.

But both titles have suffered from falling circulation in recent years. From a peak of 400,000, the daily newspaper now sells little more than 40,000 copies a day.

Parent company ESI Media said editorial redundancies would be made, although they would not confirm a number. The Financial Times estimates up to 100 jobs are at risk.

The Independent's editor, Amol Rajan, told staff it was a "painful day" but that the paper was longer economically viable, The Guardian reports.

He later tweeted: "Impossible to over-state how proud I am of the most dedicated, clever, industrious and brave staff in the history of Fleet St."

The paper's chief reporter, Cahal Milmo, added: “Sad day for us, bad day for journalism."

The closure follows the sale of The Independent's profitable sister title, i, to Johnston Press. Publishers said the closures would have "no bearing" on the status of the London Evening Standard, which is also owned by the group.

The final issue of The Independent is due to be published on 26 March, with the last Independent on Sunday printing on 20 March.

Journalists have taken to social media to mourn the loss of a liberal national title, share their favourite front pages and ponder the future of print journalism.