Newsweek ending print edition, shifting to online-only format after 80 years

HARTFORD -- Weekly news magazine Newsweek is stopping the presses. After 80 years in publication, readers will soon only be able to find the publication online. Fittingly, the announcement to end the print version of the magazine as of December 31st was made on the internet on Thursday, October 18th.

Newsweek is printed in southeast Wisconsin at QuadGraphics. QuadGraphics picked up the contract to publish Newsweek in 1977. On the streets, near the plant that employs roughly 1,000 people, many were unaware the magazine originates inside the massive building.

"I think they are making a mistake. They probably don't have enough people ordering their magazine and then to go online, they are just going to lose that much more subscriptions," one Hartford resident said.

Another resident said, "I think it is good with all the e-books and that. I think they can give more subscriptions."

On the heels of this news, some say they're concerned for the magazine industry and an audience left behind.

"There are so many people that are not computerized, or computer literate," one Hartford resident said.

QuadGraphics told FOX6 News via email, the impact of the Newsweek change is financially negligible. The company says no jobs will be lost. Officials say Newsweek has been struggling for some time and is a tiny part of their worldwide business.

Earlier in October, QuadGraphics announced a $900 million agreement to print Time magazine and other publications. 

The final print edition will be the Dec. 31, 2012 issue. The new online publication will be called Newsweek Global.