This week's edition of the King Island Courier was the last.
The weekly newspaper has been in circulation for 37 years, but its editor Kathleen Hunter has decided to stop running the paper.
On the front page of the last edition, Ms Hunter wrote:
"I have produced the King Island Courier for nearly 17 years and now, with nobody to hand the 'pen' to, I have made the decision to close the newspaper.
"It has been an honour to support the island's community groups in their passions and projects for the last two decades."
Ernie Blackman owns the Grassy Service Station on King Island and said the loss of the paper was devastating for the small community.
"It's a small population and it's the way the older people get their news," he said.
"It’s a disaster. It's like having the rug pulled from under them."
Mr Blackman sold the King Island Courier at his business and said residents loved going in to buy the paper.
"We have a few people that come in every week and get the paper — the editor did a sterling job with it," he said.
We've lost a major asset
At the time of the 2016 census there were just under 1,600 people living on King Island.
King Island mayor Julie Arnold said the newspaper had been the main source of communication for the island during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"It was such a huge emotional support for our community — we've lost a major asset," she said.
Councillor Arnold said she would love for a retired journalist who wants to live on the island to take over the paper.
"Someone who is happy to sit and write and put it together would be ideal," she said.
The Council said it will now have to look at a new way to communicate with King Islanders.
"There's a lot of council activity we need to make the island aware of … but at the moment we're still walking around in shock," she said.
"We don't have a plan yet but we will make one over the next few weeks."
Changing media landscape on island state
Claire Konkes, the head of media at the University of Tasmania, said it had been a tough year for Tasmania's newspapers.
"I think it is always sad to see a small paper in a regional area close and we have been seeing quite a lot of papers in Tasmania and Australia closing, so it comes as no surprise," she said.
"All regional communities need their local newspaper.
"Where do the community know about their local businesses? It's a big loss for the community."
Ms Konkes said she was hopeful someone could step in and fill the void left by the closure of the masthead.
"What we've seen in other places is either journalists or other community members trying to establish newspaper when they disappear," she said.
"We're seeing a lot of movement and experimentation. We are seeing some PR and communications businesses buy some local newspapers.
"Hopefully, someone will step in and try and look after it."
The ABC requested an interview with Ms Hunter but she declined.
