Guardian to Stop Presses, Go Twitter-Only

Guardian says will stop the presses after 188 years
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 1, 2009 6:46 AM CDT
Guardian to Stop Presses, Go Twitter-Only
A man reads a copy of the Guardian newspaper on September 12, 2005 in London.   (Getty Images)

After 188 years in print, the celebrated UK newspaper the Guardian is switching to a Twitter-only format, it said in today's April 1 edition. All news, the paper said, will appear in 140-character “tweets,” which “experts say” is enough for any story.  “In the new media environment, readers want short and punchy coverage, while the interactive possibilities of Twitter promise to transform th,” wrote a media expert before reaching his character limit.

The paper told readers it would also be shortening its archived stories to 140 characters. Some examples:

  • 1832 Reform Act gives voting rights to one in five adult males yay!!!
  • OMG Hitler invades Poland, allies declare war see tinyurl.com/b5x6e for more
  • JFK assassin8d @ Dallas, def. heard second gunshot from grassy knoll WTF?
(More Twitter stories.)

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