“Free since 1848” the slogan proclaims. This is Die Presse a newspaper steeped in Viennese history. Right here on Hainburger Strasse you stand before a pivotal piece of Austria’s journalistic legacy.
Founded in 1848 during the revolutionary fervor Die Presse emerged as a liberal bourgeois voice. Its early days were marked by a commitment to freedom and a dedication to the ideals of the 1848 revolutions. This liberal spirit was reflected in its coverage. Even Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels contributed articles to Die Presse. They wrote about the American Civil War. Their work later became part of the book The Civil War in the United States.
The paper’s path wasn’t always smooth. In 1864 its staff split forming the Neue Freie Presse. This later faced suppression under the Nazis. After World War II resistance fighter Ernst Molden resurrected Die Presse. He had been vice-editor-in-chief of the Neue Freie Presse before the war. He continued its legacy.
For a long time Die Presse struggled financially. The Austrian Chamber of Commerce became its main shareholder in the 1960s. Today Die Presse is part of the Styria Media Group. This is a conservative-liberal group with ties to the Catholic Church.
Die Presse’s editorial stance is described as classically liberal. It prioritizes free-market economics and limited government. It often opposes Austria’s grand coalition. It contrasts with the more conservative Wiener Zeitung and the left-leaning Der Standard. Die Presse’s commitment to its liberal heritage remains firm. It continues to report on general news topics and science. Since 2009 it publishes a Sunday edition Die Presse am Sonntag.
In 2007 Michael Fleischhacker served as editor-in-chief. The following year Die Presse received an award for its editorial team. The paper’s circulation has fluctuated. In 2002 it was among Austria’s four largest quality newspapers. Its circulation peaked at over 120000 copies. It has seen a decline in recent years. Despite these challenges Die Presse endures. It remains a key voice in Austrian journalism. Its long history is a testament to its resilience. Its future remains vibrant.