The Austrian parliament has voted to end the print edition of the Wiener Zeitung, the world’s oldest continuously published daily newspaper, with origins dating back to 1703. This prestigious publication has chronicled momentous events in Austrian history and European culture, including the exploits of young Mozart and the abdication of the last Habsburg emperor.
Owned by the Austrian government since 1857, the Wiener Zeitung has served as an official gazette, with mandatory government job advertisements and official notices appearing in the newspaper, providing its primary source of revenue. The new legislation, passed on Thursday, no longer requires the government and companies to advertise in the print edition.
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz previously commented that “it is not the role of the republic to run and finance a daily newspaper.” The new media regulations will transform the Wiener Zeitung from a daily newspaper into a “training and further education medium.” This decision has been met with protests from staff, readers, and supporters of the newspaper’s rich journalistic legacy.
Although an online edition and a monthly print edition will still be produced, the government’s decision has raised concerns about preserving the spirit of the Wiener Zeitung. Deputy editor-in-chief Thomas Seifert emphasized the importance of maintaining the newspaper’s long-standing tradition and commitment to quality journalism.
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