It has been 43 years since Rafik Khoury acted as the editor-in-chief of Lebanon’s Al-Anwar.
But, on Saturday, the newspaper will issue its last print version to become the latest victim of the country’s media crisis.
"Dar Assayad has decided to stop publishing Al-Anwar," the political daily said on its front page.
The publisher's other eight publications, which include the popular cultural weekly Al Shabaka, would also close.
Almost as old as Lebanon, the newspaper was first issued in 1959. It is now closing due to "financial losses.”
On Friday, the news fell heavily on the heart of the Lebanese. Journalists working at Al-Anwar newspaper said they were not informed about the decision before Friday. “We did not receive any warning about a decision to end our services,” several of them said.
They explained that rumors were silently circulating about a decision to close down the printed version next Oct. 15, leaving some publications operating.
However, it was surprising that Dar Assayad was quick to issue its decision to close all publications without any warnings.
Lebanese writer Said Freiha founded Dar Assayad in 1943, with offices in London, Dubai, Riyadh, Cairo and Damascus, as well as Beirut. Al Shabaka magazine was later founded in 1956. Other Dar Assayad publications include Fairuz, Al Fares, Al Difaa Al Arabi, Siher and Al Idari.
Last June, Al-Hayat pan-Arab newspaper closed its Lebanon offices, where it was first founded in 1946, and left its international version only available online.
In late 2016, another Lebanese newspaper, As-Safir, closed down its doors following 42 years of publication, also due to a shortage of funds.
Other newspapers have suspended salary payments and fired employees.
It was not immediately clear if there were any plans for the publications to continue to have an online presence.
