National gay newspaper the Pink Paper has suspended printing, citing falling advertising revenues caused by the economic downturn.
It will continue its online edition and weekly e-mail newsletter, Pink Paper Xtra, said editor Tris Reid-Smith.
He said they hoped to resume printing the paper - which is free and relies heavily on recruitment and property adverts - when the economy recovered.
The publishers said staff would stay to work on the website and other titles.
In the British media thousands of jobs have been cut and newspaper titles closed, with employers blaming falling advertising revenues and circulation, and changes in the way people consume news.
Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said the loss of the fortnightly paper edition of Pink Paper was "a big blow to the lesbian and gay community".
"We have lost a major source of news and information. It was an invaluable forum for debate and helped us co-ordinate campaigns against homophobia."
He said although the online version would remain, it was "no substitute" for the paper, which had a circulation figure of 51,500.
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 The decision to suspend fortnightly print and distribution of Pink Paper has been one of the toughest we have had to make in a long time 
Kim Watson, media director, publisher MPG
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"Without the Pink Paper, the lesbian and gay community is likely to become more fragmented and isolated, with people in one part of the country being much less aware about what is happening in other parts of the country," said Mr Tatchell.
Mr Reid-Smith said since last year organisations on which it relied had slashed their budgets for print advertising, leaving the paper unable to cover its costs.
Kim Watson, media director of publisher Millivres Prowler Group (MPG) - which also publishes Gay Times and Diva - said the Pink Paper was particularly vulnerable because of its heavy reliance on property and recruitment adverts, two of the sectors badly hit by the global financial crisis.
"The decision to suspend fortnightly print and distribution of Pink Paper has been one of the toughest we have had to make in a long time."
She added: "But in order to ensure that we can continue providing a service to the LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] community in future we have taken the decision now, rather than when the situation has worsened to a point that we would need to cease Pink Paper all together."
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Stop press!
Pink Paper is being forced to suspend printing its newspaper after this issue, due to the economic downturn.
Tris Reid-Smith
Instead the Pink Paper will continue online at PinkPaper.com and through its weekly newsletter, Pink Paper Xtra, delivered straight into your email inbox.
The publishers hope to start printing the newspaper again when the economy recovers and the advertising market improves.
As a free newspaper, Pink Paper relies almost entirely on advertising income. This time last year it was a very successful business but since then organisations have slashed their spend on print advertising, meaning the paper has been unable to cover its costs.
We were particularly vulnerable as we were largely reliant on property and recruitment adverts, two of the sectors worse-hit by the global financial meltdown.
Kim Watson, media director of MPG, which runs the publication, said: “The decision to suspend fortnightly print and distribution of Pink Paper has been one of the toughest we have had to make in a long time but in order to ensure that we can continue providing a service to the LGBT community in future we have taken the decision now, rather than when the situation has worsened to a point that we would need to cease Pink Paper all together.
“We are looking forward to increasing delivery of our weekly newsletter and ensuring that our website continues to grow in its visitors and interaction. We are also glad to announce that all existing staff will remain in post to work on Pink Paper online and our other titles.”
The decision to suspend printing the paper means the team will put all their efforts into making the website and Pink Paper Xtra into the premier source of gay news, packed with the latest gossip, politics, crime, entertainment, local, national and international stories. And, unlike other news sites, it will continue to include reviews, interviews and features.
Visit PinkPaper.com to sign up for Pink Paper Xtra so you never miss out on the latest.