Newspaper Owned by Lebanon’s Hariri Publishes Final Edition, Reports Reuters

Al-Mustaqbal Newspaper Transitions Online Amid Lebanon’s Press Challenges

BEIRUT – Readers of the Lebanese daily Al-Mustaqbal received their final print edition on Thursday, marking a shift to an online format that highlights the difficulties confronting Lebanon’s press industry.

Al-Mustaqbal is the fourth major newspaper to vanish from Lebanon’s newsstands in recent years. Owned by caretaker prime minister Saad al-Hariri, the newspaper reflects his political stance and was founded by his late father, Rafik al-Hariri, a former prime minister who was assassinated in 2005. The newspaper shares its name with the Hariri political movement.

Editor-in-chief Bassam Nounou noted that the publication had struggled with declining advertising revenue and competition from social media, issues affecting news outlets globally, as well as the financial troubles of its parent organization, which also operates a television station.

"There is a crisis in print journalism," Nounou explained, adding that the newspaper aimed to lower costs while preserving quality during its transition to online-only content.

Lebanon has historically been known for its diverse and relatively free press, with various newspapers representing the nation’s political spectrum.

The Hariri family is among the most influential political families in Lebanon’s Sunni Muslim community. Saad al-Hariri has served as caretaker prime minister since the previous year, ongoing negotiations for a new power-sharing coalition with rival factions.

On its final front page, Al-Mustaqbal’s headline read "Al-Mustaqbal, between two generations," signaling its shift from print to digital. Accompanying the headline was a photograph of the newspaper’s 2005 edition following the assassination of Rafik al-Hariri.

The final Thursday edition featured an editorial and a news story, along with 30 pages of significant front pages chronicling major events, including the September 11, 2001 attacks and the 2008 clashes in Beirut.