A copy editor of Sinar Harapan newspaper scans a dummy sheet from the daily publication's final print edition on Friday. (Antara Photo/Wahyu Putro A.)

A copy editor of Sinar Harapan newspaper scans a dummy sheet from the daily publication's final print edition on Friday.

One of Indonesia's oldest newspapers, Sinar Harapan first appeared on newspaper stands across the country on April 27, 1961, and would for the next 25 years provide readers with a frank and critical insight into current events – including those involving the Suharto-led authoritarian government.

After multiple license suspensions throughout the 1970s and early '80s, the late strongman finally shut down Sinar Harapan on October 1986 over articles criticizing the government's questionable business deals and, even worse, the presidential succession.

The state rebranded the paper into Suara Pembaruan several months later, keeping much of its staff but stripping it of any journalistic freedom.

In July 2001, three years after the fall of Suharto, the publication was revived under its original masthead.

However, with the worldwide decline in readership of print newspapers and an almost exponential increase of online news platforms, Sinar Harapan decided in 2015 to bow out of Indonesia's competitive media industry for good.

It's final print edition comes out on Friday, while its website will only be online until midnight. (Antara Photo/Wahyu Putro)