One of Visayas’ oldest newspapers to stop operations

The Visayan Daily Star, one of the oldest newspapers in the Visayas. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

ILOILO CITY—Economic difficulties due to the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic have driven one of the oldest newspapers in the Visayas to indefinitely stop operations.

Ninfa Leonardia, editor in chief and president of the The Visayan Daily Star (VDS), said in her column on Thursday that the 38-year-old newspaper would stop publishing but “will return and go on.”

“The long period of this COVID pandemic has deprived us of our daily sources of income to keep publishing your daily news source. Aside from that, our main supporters, our advertisers, have mostly been badly hit in their businesses, too, and are now gasping for breath themselves,” she said.

“For several months, since this all started, we struggled, until we had to finally bite the bullet and call a halt to our issues,” Leonardia said.

She said their decision to close down the newspaper is also to ensure the safety of their staff who may be exposed to the disease.

“The STAR may be covered by clouds for a while, but wait till the dimness fades and it will be back shining brightly again by the grace of our Maker, who inspired us all!” Leonardia said.

She did not give details on when the newspaper will stop publishing and when it will resume.

The VDS is considered a pillar and institution in the community press in the country.

“The Daily Star is a multi-awarded newspaper. It is also home to committed journalists …. This paper of 38 years will be missed. Hope and pray it can bounce back someday,” said Ariel Sebellino, executive director of the Philippine Press Institute, the national association of newspapers.

Sebellino said the VDS is the 13th community paper to cease operation or have shifted to an online platform.

Journalists and readers of VDS expressed sadness over the newspaper’s closure.

“This is so sad and heartbreaking to know. I grew up with Visayan Daily Star as a staple print news source in Negros…,” Bacolodnon Harold Geronimo, Megaworld assistant vice president and head of public relations and external affairs,” said in a Facebook post.

LZB