The Forward, the New York-based Jewish newspaper, is ending its print run after more than 121 years.

The left-leaning publication announced on Wednesday that it had suspended print operations.

Plans are underway to make up to 40 per cent of its workforce redundant — including editor-in-chief Jane Eisner.

The Forward will continue to publish its English and Yiddish-language editions online, the New York Post reported.

• The Forward, America's oldest Jewish news outlet, faces an unsure future — JC news feature, August 2018

Rachel Fishman Feddersen, The Forward’s chief executive, said: “The Forward is taking the next step in making our brand more relevant to our readers and more connected to their lives.

“We are announcing that this spring The Forward will complete its evolution from what was once a print-focused publisher to become a digitally focused publication.”

Andrew Silow-Carroll, the editor of Jewish news wire JTA, called it "a tragedy... coming exactly at a time when we need sharp reporting on and for a community facing tough challenges".

The firings of so many good people is a tragedy for the profession, and coming exactly at a time when we need sharp reporting on and for a community facing tough challenges. https://t.co/FiY2yAQ6BH

— Andrew Silow-Carroll (@SilowCarroll) January 17, 2019

The Forward is owned by The Forward Association, a not-for-profit whose capital endowment rose to more than $100 million when the association sold its former headquarters on the Lower East Side in the 1990s, as well as the radio station WEVD in 2004.

Aside from Ms Eisner, laid-off staffers include executive editor Dan Friedman; digital director David Goldiner; Kurt Hoffman, the design director; and Kathleen Chambard, vice president of marketing.

Seth Mandel, executive editor of Washington Examiner, said there was "nothing to celebrate" with the news.

This is nothing to celebrate and I don’t want to see any of that in my TL. A lot of history here, a lot of complicated relationships, and a lot of lives affected. https://t.co/njgmD3Rugv

— Seth Mandel (@SethAMandel) January 17, 2019

Yair Rosenberg, senior writer for the Tablet magazine, tweeted: “This is so sad, and the end of an era for Jewish journalism in America.

“Can't count the number of great reporters who got their start writing copy for The Forward.”

Gal Beckerman, an editor of the New York Times Book Review, condemned the “gloating from certain quarters, precisely those people who could never abide a Jewish news [organisation].”