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Fight for the future: How the Wiener Zeitung can be revived!
The Wiener Zeitung, the oldest daily newspaper in the world, stopped its print edition in 2023 and is transforming itself into an online medium.
Fight for the future: How the Wiener Zeitung can be revived!
In 2023, the “Wiener Zeitung” began operations as a printed daily newspaper, which came to an end after 320 years in print format. Loud the Vienna newspaper The last issue of the paper was published in printed form on June 30, 2023. The main reason for this was a law that was passed in the National Council, which took away a financial basis for the newspaper by eliminating mandatory publications. An open letter pointed out the importance of an independent media landscape, which is essential, especially in an election year like 2024.
After the sudden end of the daily newspaper, which surprised many, reported ORF Vienna from the worries of editors and journalists who feared for the quality and independence of reporting. They demand that the “Wiener Zeitung” be freed from the influence of the Federal Chancellery. Instead of high-quality journalistic work, it was criticized that only low-quality brochures were published as successors, which did little to educate society. The open letter also calls for serious discussions about possible new ownership structures to give the newspaper a future.
Former glory days of the Wiener Zeitung
The “Wiener Zeitung” was once founded as an important medium and has played an important role in the Austrian media landscape over the centuries. With its first edition in 1703, it focused on factual reporting and publicity. Long-forgotten stories about wars and peace treaties shaped the paper until it came under increasing political pressure in modern times. A diverse chronological development led to its inevitable demise, although no one could deny the importance of this journalism for democracy.
However, the critical voices from the population and artists who campaigned for the preservation of the “Wiener Zeitung” were heard, even if digitalization and the change in the media landscape had already taken irreversible steps. In summary, it should be noted that the closure of the “Wiener Zeitung” is seen as a loss for Austrian journalism.