The Washington Examiner published its last local daily edition today. It will become “a digital platform and weekly print magazine focused on political thought leadership,” the company announced in March.
To make the transition, the Examiner laid off most of its local staffers, many of whom “are moving on to new opportunities in D.C. and around the country,” the Examiner’s Matt Connolly writes in a valedictory piece. In its eight-year run, the Examiner distinguished itself with scrappy reporting on local governments, crime, transportation and sports in D.C., among other popular features.
- Front page courtesy the Newseum.
“I promised myself I wouldn’t cry at the end, but like former Redskins cornerback Darrell Green said, ‘You bet your life I will,’ ” Rick Snider wrote in his goodbye column. “I am in mourning for The Examiner as a daily newspaper,” Harry Jaffe wrote in his. “The Washington region will miss The Examiner; politicians and corrupt officials can breathe easier.”
Charlie Spiering remembers some of the paper’s better front pages, including eye-popping headlines like “D.C. teens want bigger condoms” and “Motorists fuming as bicyclists pack roads,” one of many times the paper trolled bike enthusiasts.
Staffers and former staffers bid the paper adieu on Twitter Thursday and Friday:
Peace out, DC Examiner. Great local reporting for 8 years. So many reporters going on to better things. A silver lining to a crap ending.
— Michael Neibauer (@WashBizNeibs) June 14, 2013
That’s a wrap. Your last Stupid Crimes. http://t.co/uDTl5fzD3C
— DC Crime (@Scott_McCabe) June 14, 2013
So long Examiner. An early career highlight: http://t.co/ys8kMObRyp
— Alan Suderman (@AlanSuderman) June 13, 2013
My first piece in the Examiner was 8 years ago–a review of @ByronYork‘s book. Commissioned by @heymiller.
— Timothy P Carney (@TPCarney) June 14, 2013
