History of International Newspapers: Die Welt in Germany Part 2

About the International newspaper Die Welt published in Germany, history and information.

DIE WELT (Hamburg, West Germany)

Die Welt features clear, lively writing with many short sentences, and follows the American custom of putting the important facts in a news story 1st. An official of the newspaper says of its aims, "In the world of newspapers we want Die Welt to be a prestige symbol standing for intelligence and culture, for responsible thinking, initiative, and success. We want Die Welt to be considered as a paper of unparalleled integrity, of comprehensive, fast, and reliable news reporting, of courageous and responsible commentary. Its voice must be authoritative and disciplined, its style lively yet timely and serious and trustworthy."

Unlike many German newspapers, Die Welt has a light-looking layout and pleasing typography. Its major competition, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) is more stolid in appearance. FAZ would probably appeal to the professor, Die Welt to the businessman or politician.

The paper offers a rich mix of foreign and national news, sports, science, economics, and editorials. Each day, an "extra" is included--for instance, "School and University" on Monday, "Motor" on Tuesday, "Intellectual World" on Saturday. The Sunday paper, which has an entire staff of its own, draws on the work of leading journalists and intellectuals, such as Willy Brandt.

Though Springer has a controlling interest he interferes very little in editorial matters. He has said, "Newspapers should be interested in but not take the place of politics. Newspapers must explain, illuminate, censure, or support political developments. The newspapers' task is to caution or stimulate. Newspapers are supposed to state their case, but they should never try to take the place of politics, lest they destroy politics . . . the responsibility of a publisher must follow in the traditions of Peter Zenger or Thomas Paine, in combating any threat to freedom of expression."

Scoops. Shortly after Konrad Adenauer's death in 1967, Die Welt published a beautifully written, definitive 32-page "tribute to Adenauer" issue.

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