BuzzFeed has made a bold and brief move into print with the launch of a magazine that will be distributed in New York.

The digital publisher has printed the limited line of the issues which will be freely distributed by news vendors and staff in New York at Union Square, Penn Station and Herald Square today (6 March).

The cover story is BuzzFeed's take on digital hoax, the momo suicide scandal.

In a brief statement, the company joked: "BuzzFeed, a company that was born on the internet and social media, is testing a new technology called print and unveiling a one-time, special edition BuzzFeed Newspaper, showcasing the latest news stories and favourite BuzzFeed content in an easy to consume mobile format.

"Fans all across New York will be able to check out the must-read stories without ever needing WiFi."

It comes after BuzzFeed made a swathe of job cuts globally. Its chief executive Jonah Peretti is exploring a possible merger with digital media peers like Vice, Vox Media, Group Nine and Refinery.

BuzzFeed stressed that the move is a stunt conducted by new chief marketing officer Ben Kaufman and news editor Ben Smith.

Get your BuzzFeed newspaper in NYC today for all the best of the internet without the internet! pic.twitter.com/xklQOjTLJB

— BuzzFeed (@BuzzFeed) March 6, 2019

This is wild. I’m holding a print edition of @BuzzFeedpic.twitter.com/Z3CePclWH8 — Tyler Kruse (@tylahnol) March 6, 2019