Despite inflation, the corona and energy crises, the Axel Springer Group exceeded its economic targets last year. For the second time in a row, after 2021, “double-digit organic sales growth” has been achieved, explains CEO Mathias Döpfner in an interview with the German press agency. At the same time, however, he announces austerity measures at Springer’s German newspapers picture and World on.
While the media group is primarily focusing on growth in the US business – it would like to become the largest publisher there – the structures of the domestic media business in Berlin have been reviewed since September. When asked if there were layoffs at picture and World said Döpfner, who has headed the group as CEO since 2002: “Definitely a reallocation of staff. In one place it will be less, in another more. That also means separations of employees.” He did not name an order of magnitude or when.
“In retrospect, not the right idea”
In the future, Springer wants to become a media company without any printed newspapers, a “purely digital company”https://www.sueddeutsche.de/medien/ picture-Newspaper, not printed World and there will no longer be any printed newspapers at Axel Springer. Except maybe special editions,” says Döpfner.
Only recently did the group significantly reduce the program of the still young television channel Bild TV. The channel started in August 2021, but viewer ratings fell short of expectations. “In retrospect, this highly ambitious news channel concept was not the right idea,” says Döpfner. He is a big supporter of ambitious ideas. “But then you also need the necessary self-reflection to quickly correct the course if an idea develops in the wrong direction.” At the Boulevard mark picture However, Döpfner would also generally like to state in the digital future that picture is “part of Axel Springer’s DNA”.