The Weekly Standard closes as publisher expands magazine less critical of Donald Trump

'This is a volatile time for American journalism and politics,' editor-in-chief writes in note to staff

The paper became a frequent critical voice against the Trump administration. (AFP/Getty)

The Weekly Standard, a traditionally-conservative publication that has become a frequent critical voice against Donald Trump, has announced it will print its last issue next week.

The closure of the 23-year-old publication was announced after years of decline in subscriptions and months of apparent internal dispute between its leadership and The Weekly Standard’s publisher, MediaDC.

In a statement to staff, editor-in-chief Stephen Hayes described shifts in the media industry and conservative outlets suffering due to their rebuke of Mr Trump as reasons for the decision.

“This is a volatile time in American journalism and politics,” he wrote. “Many media outlets have responded to the challenges of the moment by prioritising affirmation over information, giving into the pull of polarisation and the lure of clickbait.”

The outlet’s shuttering made way for MediaDC to announce expansion of the Washington Examiner's magazine, another one of its properties that has been far less critical of the president since he took office in 2016.

MediaDC attempted to expand The Weekly Standard’s subscription base for years, reportedly agreeing to allow Mr Hayes to search for a replacement owner in recent months after a continued decline in readership.

The outlet was founded by political analysts Bill Kristol and Fred Barnes in 1995 and has become somewhat of a thorn in the side of the White House administration and Republican-controlled legislature, releasing audio early this year of Congressman Steve King espousing controversial anti-immigrant views at a campaign event in Iowa.

However, the magazine has slipped in prominence over the years, despite its reported increase in web traffic. Monday will mark its final publication, and the Washington Examiner magazine will become a weekly publication.

In a press release, Clarity Media Group — which acquired the publication in 2009 — said The Weekly Standard “provided a valued and important perspective on political, literary and cultural issues of the day.”

“The Weekly Standard has been hampered by many of the same challenges that countless other magazines and newspapers across the country have been wrestling with,“ said Ryan McKibben, CEO of Clarity Media. ”Despite investing significant resources into the publication, the financial performance of the publication over the last five years with double-digit declines in its subscriber base all but one year since 2013 made it clear that a decision had to be made."

He concluded, "After careful consideration of all possible options for its future, it became clear that this was the step we needed to take."