120 years of small newspaper: a festival of connection and identity

120 years of small newspaper: a festival of connection and identity

The celebrations for the 120th anniversary of the Kleine Zeitung are an impressive sign of durability at a time when many companies have difficulty staying in the long term. Only two percent of companies reach this age at all. The readers are essential partners in this way; Without them, there would be neither the newspaper nor the successes that it celebrated over the years. That is why the Kleine Zeitung did not align its anniversary celebration in chic designed locations, but in the familiar regions where people live and work. In festive halls, where talks took far after midnight, the connection to the readership was noticeable.

In the core of the newspaper, the dialogue is. The statutes testify that communication between different perspectives and social groups plays a central role. This willingness to dialogue is more important than ever today, since public opinions change through media divisions and trust in traditional media. The small newspaper strives to actively counter this change and to be a credible opposite pole to social media and populist currents. At a time when the boundaries between truth and falsehood often blur, the obligation to transparent reporting is of central importance.

strong regional anchorage

An essential feature of the small newspaper is its deep rooting in the regions. The regional parts of the newspaper are not only a supplementary element, but could even act as an independent publication. The digital formats offer a wide range of content that enables readers to better understand their regions. The regionality is not just a mere marketing tool, but reflects the specific understanding of the newspaper to create a platform for the variety of opinions and experiences.

The Kleine Zeitung interprets regionality as something open and permeable. It does not want to be a home newspaper that indulges in nostalgic memories, but sees itself as an active part of the social discussion. Matters that affect citizens are treated without prejudice and non -partisan. In this way, the newspaper wants to help the connective tissue of democracy to be preserved in the regions.

The commitment to quality

The challenges of digitization have also changed the journalistic landscape. Old business models have been replaced by new possibilities that affect the spread of news, but also on their narrative style. In this context, a return to the quality promise is crucial. The success of the newspaper must not only be due to sales figures, but must be measured by the quality of its content. A clearly formulated foundation of values is also essential today. This is intended to offer an orientation that is understandable for all readers.

The commitment to a pluralistic and democratic society is part of the genetic codes of the small newspaper, which is independent of political influences and interests. Each anniversary offers the opportunity to reflect on its own position and to regain the lost trust. With an audience of 190,000 print subscribers and 70,000 digital readers in the back, it becomes particularly important to communicate transparently and also openly accept criticism.

For those readers who are interested in the development of the Kleine Zeitung, an Open House Day will be planned in 2024 to give insights into the work and philosophy of the editorial team.