The oldest daily newspaper in the world was published in printed form for the last time today. The “Wiener Zeitung”, whose first issue appeared on August 8, 1703, will only be available online in the future.
The “Wiener Zeitung”, the oldest daily newspaper in the world, has discontinued its print edition. “116,840 days, 3839 months, 320 years, 12 presidents, 10 emperors, 2 republics, 1 newspaper” read the last front page of the state, but editorially independent publication today. The “Wiener Zeitung” will appear online in the future. A monthly print edition is also planned.
A total of 63 contract terminations are associated with the changeover. The editorial team will be reduced by 35 positions to 20 people, the company said. The “Wiener Zeitung” describes itself as the oldest daily newspaper in the world that is still published.
In an article in the last issue, the editors gave this title to the “Hildesheimer Allgemeine Zeitung” in Lower Saxony, which had existed since 1705.
First published in August 1703
The “Wiener Zeitung” was originally founded as the “Vienneric Diarium”. The program in the first edition of August 8, 1703 was to spread news “without a bit of oratorical and poetic makeup” – i.e. to convey sober news.
Recently, however, the newspaper, which is known as a quality medium, only sold around 8,000 printed copies per day. The print edition was discontinued because the most important source of funding was eliminated after a change in the law: in the past, entries in the commercial register had to appear in the “Wiener Zeitung” for a fee. It has now switched to online announcements. This decision by the conservative chancellor party ÖVP and the co-governing Greens was criticized by the opposition and the editors of the “Wiener Zeitung”.
SPÖ boss Andreas Babler described the printed version of the “Wiener Zeitung” as a “bitter day for Austria as a media location and cultural country”. He had announced that he would look for ways and means to get the printed daily newspaper back as soon as government responsibility was restored.
anger, sadness and sadness
Editor-in-chief Thomas Seifert of the “Wiener Zeitung” told the Austrian press agency APA that he felt a mixture of anger, melancholy and sadness at the end of 320 years of newspaper history. The government failed to find a buyer.
“Stormy times for journalism also mean difficult times for democracy,” said an editorial today, calling for more, not less, quality journalism.
The last issue also includes interviews with the former Austrian chancellors Franz Vranitzky and Wolfgang Bowl. Arnold Schwarzenegger can also be found in the last issue. In an interview with the newspaper “Der Standard”, Seifert said that nostalgia and melancholy will be the leitmotif of the last issue. The last circulation of the newspaper was increased to 50,000 copies.