Editor-in-Chief of the Stabroek News, Anand Persaud today said a change in market conditions is among key factors that influenced the decision to close the newspaper with effect from March 15.
For almost four decades, Stabroek News has played a key role in Guyana’s media landscape.
In an interview with Prime News today, Mr. Persaud said as an independent newspaper, Stabroek News has been fearless in the execution of its mandate.
He said it is unfortunate that after almost 40 years, the newspaper is closing its doors.
“Newspapers all around the world are facing this crisis. You would know yourself that just last month, News Day in Trinidad folded as a result of the collapse of advertising and subscription revenues and the general difficulty in the market. You know, the market is now dominated by social media and digitalization. There are so many free openings for people to gather news,” he explained.
He said for the last five years, Stabroek News confronted many of its challenges head-on, and in doing so, explored a number of options, including digitizing parts of its operations. However, he noted that despite the best efforts of the newspapers, there was nothing that really provided the long term security it needed.
He said the digital revenues were fleeting.
“So we had to make a tough decision, and in the light and in the mode of our being an independent newspaper, what you want to do is to leave with dignity. We want to be on our feet rather than live on our knees, beholden to anybody,” he said.
Stabroek News, in recent months, criticized the state run Department of Public Information (DPI) over its reluctance to effect payment to the company for state ads published in the newspaper. DPI currently owes the newspaper more than $80 million for ads that were published.
Persaud said the “huge debt” owed by the State in not necessarily a factor that influenced the newspapers’ decision to end its operations
“Now, it wasn’t necessarily a factor in the newspaper making the decision to close, that is, even if DPI had paid us on time we still would have been under stress because of the change in the markets. But what the debt from DPI, I think signified was clearly an undue and unacceptable attempt by the Government to pressure independent media. And so I think in our exit, that is what the society has to take account of, that we have a government in place that is not indisposed to using financial pressures to target independent media that they would like to close,” he said.
But he said the Government ought to be held accountable.
Persaud said while the closure of Stabroek News nears, the work of the free and independent press must continue.
“So, unfortunately, our stint as an independent newspaper has come to an end but it is very important that this job be continued by others who are in the media. It’s clear that it’s all going to be social media driven these days, but the role that Stabroek News played between 1986 and now needs to be played by others because accountability is very important in society,” the EIC said.
In a statement, the Guyana Press Association (GPA) said it is deeply saddened by the closure of Stabroek News – the country’s first independent newspaper in post-independent Guyana.
The GPA said the development marks a significant loss to the nation’s media landscape.
“The announcement of the impending closure took many by surprise. For decades, Stabroek News has been a pillar of independent journalism, providing citizens with credible information, diverse perspectives, and fearless reporting. Its closure represents not only the silencing of a critical voice but also a reminder of the challenges faced by independent media in sustaining operations amidst economic and political pressures,” GPA said.
The Press Association said independent media is essential to any society, explaining that that it ensures accountability, amplifies marginalized voices, and provides a platform for public debate free from undue influence. It said too that the impending closure of Stabroek News should serve as a wake-up call to strengthen protections for press freedom and to ensure that Guyana’s media environment remains diverse, resilient, and capable of fulfilling its democratic role.
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