Landmark moment for media industry as Lloyd’s List goes digital-only

Daily newspaper has been providing shipping news for marine and insurance industries since 1734

Lloyd’s List, regarded by many as the world’s oldest continually published newspaper with a print history dating back to 1734, is going digital-only in a landmark moment for the media industry and the City.

The daily paper has been providing shipping news for the marine and insurance industries since the days when a daily notice was pinned on the wall of Edward Lloyd’s coffee shop.

Publisher Informa said it was only axing the print edition in December after consulting readers — 97 per cent said “their preferred way of accessing business information is online”.

Editor Richard Meade said it could offer more to readers online and on mobile 24 hours a day.

Asked if he felt sad at the demise of print, Meade responded: “No. I’ve been waiting to do this since I took over as editor nearly three years ago. It needed to happen.”

Lloyd’s has only 25 print-only subscribers, although it has a print circulation of 1250 as some readers get print and online versions. It has 16,624 paying digital subscribers.