The mobile site of the Lebanese newspaper was relaunched in 2019. (Credit: P.H.B.)
BEIRUT — After halting its print edition in late March, Nida’ el-Watan announced on Tuesday that it will cease to exist entirely by the end of this week.
Friday, June 14, will be the employees’ last working day, the Lebanese daily’s management declared in a statement. The news outlet says the decision was taken following internal discussions about "the poor economic and financial situation that has prevailed in the country for five years."
Employees were told to collect their last paychecks and complete the necessary paperwork for terminating their contracts within two weeks of their last work day. The daily employed around 40 people, including journalists and other staff members, according to an anonymous employee.
This is the second time the newspaper has shut its doors. The first closure was in 2000 after having run for almost a decade. It was later revived in 2019 by Michel Mecattaf, a former Kataeb supporter and unsuccessful 2018 parliamentary candidate in Metn for the Lebanese Forces. Mecattaf died of a heart attack at 52 on March 18, 2022, and signs of financial trouble at Nida’ al-Watan emerged earlier this year. In March, management announced the end of the print version, giving themselves a month to find a buyer.
