Wiener Zeitung facts for kids
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The Wiener Zeitung Extra of 21 May 1799 reporting on battles between Austrian and French troops in Switzerland
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| Type | Daily newspaper |
|---|---|
| Format | Broadsheet |
| Owner(s) | Government of Austria, represented by the Chancellor |
| Founded | 1703 |
| Ceased publication | 30 June 2023 (print) |
| Headquarters | Vienna |
Wiener Zeitung was an Austrian newspaper. It is one of the oldest newspapers in the world. It is the official publication used by the Government of the Republic of Austria for legally-required announcements, such as company registrations, and was also the official publishing body for laws and executive orders until 2004.
As of 2002, Wiener Zeitung was among the four Austrian newspapers of record beside the right-liberal Die Presse, the left-liberal Der Standard and the Christian-liberal and conservative Salzburger Nachrichten. The newspaper ended its daily print edition on 30 June 2023. It will continue to operate online and distribute a monthly print edition, the details of which are yet to be announced.
History and profile
The newspaper, founded in 1703 under the name Wiennerisches Diarium, was considered the official mouthpiece of the Imperial Court due to its being supplied information directly and exclusively by the Court. The paper was published bi-weekly, usually running around eight pages in length. Supplements and other extensive reports were published during war time, mainly about Austria, the Franco-Austrian Alliance, and their mutual enemy Prussia. Field journals and diaries from the Austrian army were the main sources used by the paper, reporting on officer promotions, troop deployments and other public announcements pertaining to the war, mostly of local interest. Around 15 per cent of reports were about battles and armed conflicts while 3 per cent were about war crimes committed by Prussian troops.
Like many papers at the time, Wiennerisches Diarium started out by reporting regional and international news. It also published birth and wedding announcements, as well as obituaries of the aristocracy, and provided coverage of the imperial court.
Since 1780, the paper was known as Wiener Zeitung (meaning Viennese newspaper in English) and in 1810 it became the official government newspaper. In 1857 the government acquired the paper and it was printed until 1997 by the Austrian State Printing Office. The first edition after World War II appeared on 21 September 1945. The number of copies sold has grown from 4,500 in 1855 to an estimated 24,000 today. In 1998 the paper was transferred to a GmbH (Limited Liability Company), which is owned by the Austrian Government.
Wiener Zeitung is also the official publication used by the Government of the Republic of Austria for formal announcements. Such announcements, for example, civil service vacancies and changes in the commercial register, are printed in the Official Journal insert of Wiener Zeitung. Until 2004 it also used to publish the official version of newly passed Austrian laws. Today the governmental version of newly passed statutes and treaties are officially published in the Internet, the law gazette thus is not available in a printed version anymore.
Until 2009 Wiener Zeitung's editor-in-chief was Andreas Unterberger, before being replaced by Reinhard Göweil. While Unterberger hired mostly outspoken conservative columnists, the paper returned to its liberal position under Reinhard Göweil.
On 27 April 2023, Wiener Zeitung announced an end to its daily print run. Going forward, the paper will be printed a minimum 10 times a year depending on available funds. The paper also announced plans to establish a media hub, a content agency and a training centre for journalists. At this time, the paper had a 20,000 weekday circulation, with about twice as much on weekends. Almost half of the newspaper's over 200 employees, 40 of whom are journalists, could be laid off due to the change, according to its trade union. After the announcement, several hundred people took to the streets in Vienna to protest the government's move.
On 30 June 2023, it ceased its daily printing after 320 years. Wiener Zeitung intends to continue online with a monthly print run and an editorial staff of 20 employees.
See also
In Spanish: Wiener Zeitung para niños
- List of newspapers in Austria
