WSJ to stop print edition in Europe, will cut back in Asia

The Wall Street Journal is scaling back production of its print edition outside the US as it reviews its international operations and sharpens its focus on digital subscriptions, reports Matthew Garrahn of the Financial Times.

Garrahan writes, “The print edition of the business and finance newspaper, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp, will no longer be available in Europe, according to two people briefed on the plans.

“Free copies and unprofitable hotel ‘amenity deals’, where hotels buy bulk copies at a discount, are also being scrapped. However, Dow Jones, the News Corp division that owns the Journal, is debating whether to continue mailing copies to subscribers who still want a physical paper.

“It is pursuing a similar approach in Asia but is in talks with a partner about a print joint venture that would continue distribution in one big market there, according to the people with knowledge of the discussions. In Australia some Wall Street Journal pages are available as an insert in The Australian, another Murdoch-owned paper.”

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