Launched into Cambodia’s post Khmer Rouge era, the institution that is the Phnom Penh Post has announced it is to cease its bilingual editions.

With severe and long-running financial problems driving the decision, the English-language and Khmer print editions will not be published beyond the end of the month.

Hopes are that a digital presence will continue.

The decision, which brings to an end an institution with a history of more than 30 years, was first announced via the paper’s Facebook page. A statement advised that “since the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent economic downturn” its advertising revenues had significantly decreased.

“The rapid advancement of technologies and the widespread circulation of news through social media have also caused severe financial difficulties for the company.”

Shareholders had tried to inject more funds and “generate income by all means” to restore the company’s financial condition and “continue publishing this independent, professional newspaper, which has been operating for more than 30 years.

“Despite these efforts, the company still cannot continue to bear such losses. Therefore, our shareholders have decided, with deep regret, to cease the publication of the newspaper, both the English and Khmer editions, by March 29, 2024.”

Founded in 1992 by Michael Hayes and Kathleen O’Keefe, The Post was Cambodia’s oldest English-language newspaper, and like many, had struggled to adjust its business model from print to digital.

Post chief executive Ly Tayseng is reported to have told Associated Press that it will continue publishing online, and this was reiterated in a post on X from journalist Niem Chheng saying the publisher remained “committed to delivering news and information through our online presence”.

In their message, the publishers expressed “sincere gratitude” to all our customers, readers and business partners for their support “thus far”.