History of Die Welt. A newspaper with a dream of German unity

photo: Orderinchaos/CC4.0/Wikimedia

Postwar Germany was divided into four occupation zones, with four political agendas and four distinct visions for the defeated nation’s future. Information needed to be communicated quickly - radio wasn’t always available, but newspapers were more accessible. The Allies decided to reorganize the German press system and establish a so-called licensed press, run by uncompromised German journalists. This wasn’t easy - experienced professionals often had Nazi-tainted pasts.

The Soviets handled this first, and within a year, each zone had its own licensed paper:

• May 15, 1945 - Tägliche Rundschau launched in the Soviet zone
• October 18, 1945 - Neue Zeitung began in the American zone
• April 2, 1946 - British-run Die Welt launched
• September 15, 1946 - French paper Nouvelles de France debuted

While the Americans and Soviets quickly implemented their projects, the British hit some hard ground - especially since their government decided the paper had to be published in Hamburg. Colonel Henry G. Gerland was tasked with this and faced a serious challenge.

Day or World? Hans Zehrer builds a newsroom and then leaves

The city was a sea of rubble. Encouragingly, cultural and intellectual life still bloomed among the ruins. But there was a shortage of qualified journalists. Still, something had to start the process.


In autumn 1945, Gerland hired two assistants: Lieutenant Colonel Steele McRitchie and Major Alastair Hetherington. Together, they managed to restore the Broschek printing house, which had published Hamburger Fremdenblatt until 1944. The next step was to hire an editor-in-chief. They chose Hans Zehrer, former editor of Vossische Zeitung and Die Tat. The editorial team also included:

• press officer Willy Haas,
• young journalism trainee Siegfried Lenz,
• resistance member Curt Bley,
• publisher Albert Lubisch
• religious socialist Rudolf Küstermeier.

From January to March, the team prepared content, got the printing press running, and reached out to authors and journalists willing to contribute to this new publication intended for the entire British zone. One such contributor was lawyer and journalist Winfried Martini. There was also a debate over the name: Der Tag (The Day) or Die Welt (The World). Ultimately, they chose Die Welt.

When everything was ready and the first issue complete, the Social Democrats objected to Zehrer’s appointment: During the Third Reich, he published the reactionary völkisch magazine “Die Tat” and was seen as having Nazi affiliations. He also sent his Jewish wife into exile in Britain after the 1938 pogroms and later divorced her, partly due to “racial differences.”

There was no choice. The architect of the project, the man behind the name and layout, had to leave. He returned 20 years later and proved his worth.

In the meantime, a replacement was needed. Rudolf Küstermeier seemed the best fit, so the decision was made. On April 2, 1946, in Hamburg - or more precisely, in its ruins - the German newspaper under British military patronage DIE WELT was published in an initial print run of 160,000 copies.

Journalists return from exile

The first issue had six pages, a six-column text layout, and a price of 20 pfennigs. The subtitle read: Nonpartisan newspaper for the entire British zone published with the approval of the British authorities. In the editorial, Küstermeier wrote:

WELT will build a bridge to other nations, other ways of life, and other lines of thinking. Its goal is to pave new paths for the German nation to follow today.

Among many articles, readers found a detailed industrial development plan, new tax regulations, a profile of Cardinal von Galen, and an interview with sculptor Ernst Barlach. There was a women`s section, a science corner, poetry, ads, and classifieds.

The editorial team had one mission: to create a newspaper of the highest standard. Already in 1946, Die Welt had its first foreign correspondent (London), and from January 1, 1947, began cooperating with the global news service London Times.

Rudolf Küstermeier made it a point of pride to assemble the best journalism team in the country. While the goal was to bring in German journalists, the editorial staff was initially a British-German mix. But because the higher authority allowed editorial independence, the paper - initially a biweekly - soon became a daily with more domestic and local content. This shift was largely due to journalists returning from exile with fresh perspectives on their homeland.


One of the first returnees was Hungarian Jew Julius Hollos. He proved an invaluable asset, introducing brilliant ideas. Thanks to him, commentaries were separated from news, more emphasis was placed on current affairs, and the paper was modernized. He was a strong support for Küstermeier.

By the late 1940s, the editorial team had also welcomed:

• George Clares,
• Peter de Mendelssohn
• Martin Beheim-Schwarzbach
• Paul Schurek
• Eigener Bericht

Though the British struggled at launch, unlike the Soviets or Americans, they gave German journalists considerable freedom. They kept a hand on the pulse, with a few Brits at desks, but the majority of work was done by Germans. Küstermeier proved that he treated his role with full professionalism.

A logo for the first birthday

On Die Welt’s first anniversary, the paper received a birthday gift: a logo. Fittingly for "The World," it was a globe. An illustration of the Earth by Bruno Karberg was placed between DIE and WELT. The title font was changed and the subtitle shortened (Nonpartisan newspaper for the British zone). A new reader opinion column debuted: Wie wünschen Sie die Welt? (How do you want the world?). Even Chancellor Konrad Adenauer weighed in: In the British zone, the CDU often felt that Welt paid too little attention to the need for balance.

Considering reader feedback, staff wartime experiences, and a forward-looking vision, Die Welt was gaining momentum. Its popularity grew month by month. Colonel Garland passed the reins to Steele McRitchie, who then appointed Heinrich Schulte as director of the entire WELT-Haus operation. Schulte proved so capable that he was dubbed King Heinrich, and the paper was soon printed at three presses:

• Broschek in Hamburg
• Sachsenstraße in Essen
• Tempelhof in Berlin

By February 1949, circulation hit one million - an impressive feat. Since Die Welt was a weekday paper (Monday through Friday), in 1948 it was decided to launch a weekend edition. The first issue of Welt am Sonntag appeared on Sunday, August 1, 1948, with its own editorial team led by journalist and publicist Bernhard Menne.

In 1950, another supplement debuted: a women’s weekly Das Neue Blatt, along with a novelty - a travel agency. Around the same time, other media outlets emerged in West Germany. The biggest competitor in the north was Hamburger Abendblatt, launched in 1948 by Axel Springer. But competition wasn’t the only challenge the paper faced.

Germany`s division (the Soviets cut off printing in Berlin), economic crisis, and currency reform all impacted the paper’s finances. Advertisers pulled out, bank debt rose, circulation dropped, and in January 1950, Rudolf Küstermeier left the editorial board for health reasons. Though the British handed control to German management and changed the subtitle to Independent daily newspaper, after its grand start and early success, Die Welt began to slow down.

Editor-in-chief shuffle

They say no one is irreplaceable, but for three years no one held the editor-in-chief seat for long:

• Bernhard Menne (1950) served temporarily, running the weekend edition simultaneously
• Paul Bourdin (journalist and statesman) took the helm on May 20, 1950, but proved inexperienced
• A triumvirate of Adolf Helbig (business editor), Hans Scherer (news editor), and Adalbert Wordliczek (political editor) ran the newsroom from September 16, 1950 to October 1951, until part of the staff was moved to Essen, yielding savings
• Adolf Helbig (November 1951 - January 1952) remained in Hamburg to pass the reins
• Albert Komma officially took over on January 8, 1952 and led until September 1953

The British government grew unhappy with this revolving door of leadership and worsening financials. They ordered the paper to be sold - quickly. High Commissioner Sir Ivon Kirkpatrick announced a sale. By April 1953, 15 bidders emerged, including Zeit publisher Gerd Bucerius, the German Trade Union Federation, and Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung in Essen. The buyer had to guarantee that “Welt” would not publicly oppose the Adenauer government or British policy, and ensure financial sustainability.


In May, a 16th bidder appeared: Axel Springer. Owner of Axel Springer GmbH in Hamburg, he already published several newspapers and in 1952 launched Germany’s first tabloid - Bild. Adenauer’s press secretary, a friend of Springer, strongly supported the bid. The British also knew the publisher from previous negotiations, so they didn’t hesitate. On September 17, the purchase agreement was signed for 2,678,567 Deutsche Marks - 75% of shares. The remaining 25% went to the Foundation for the Promotion of Press Science and Young Journalists and Publishers DIE WELT.

Springer handed the bank director a check and moved the entire Welt group to a new office building in Hamburg Neustadt. He reinstated Hans Zehrer - the paper’s original founder - as editor-in-chief. This time, no one challenged the decision. Zehrer held the position for 13 more years, until his death in 1966.

Die Welt`s second wind

Die Welt found a second wind. Springer and Zehrer ensured the newspaper remained nonpartisan, maintained clear principles, and upheld unified values. They established four core guidelines still followed by all Springer publications today:

• commitment to the unity of Germany and Europe
• reconciliation with the Jewish people and support for the vital rights of the State of Israel
• dedication to freedom
• support for the social market economy and opposition to political totalitarianism of any kind

Over the next decade, Hans Zehrer showed Germany and the world how to lead a newsroom to success and acclaim. He was eloquent, cultured, stubborn, and direct. Under his leadership, young journalists gained skill and professionalism. He often said: It’s always the same paper, but you have to make it anew every day. He supervised, advised, and wrote for the Sunday editions. His student, Ernest Cramer, recalled: a large readership awaited his leading articles - always deep, sometimes controversial, nearly always masterfully written, and often too long.

He loved his work and deeply cared for his paper. He believed it was unique and special. He often said: DIE WELT is not for everyone, not a quiet paper, because it reports on a world full of turmoil, nor is it a comfortable newspaper. He fought for German unity, as reflected in his writings.

He surrounded himself with broad-minded and open people. He welcomed new ideas and actions, and didn’t exclude those with a dark past - as long as they were professionals and discreet about their views, they could work at Die Welt.

The paper quickly evolved into a modern outlet exploring new directions. One pioneering move of the 1960s was the introduction of in-depth reporting. Much of the credit goes to Heinz Dietrich Fischer. While the editorial team was already strong, Zehrer made it even better. Every department was expected to uphold professionalism and authority.


The cultural section featured writers such as Paul Carell and Hans Georg von Studnitz - the former wrote under the alias PC Holm due to his past. Business analyses were handled by Ferdinand Zimmerman. The social policy section was led by Ilse Elsner, historical commentary was written by Sebastian Haffner, and military affairs were covered by Eric Kuby.

Other notable contributors from the worlds of culture and journalism included:

• Conrad Ahlers
• Friedrich Luft
• Willy Haas
• Göst von Uexküll
• Gert von Paczensky
• Georg Ramseger
• Paul Sethe

Everyone had the right to express their opinion and defend their views. While Springer`s views often differed from Zehrer`s, there was never any conflict. The owner gave his editor-in-chief full autonomy, and they respected and supported each other - even traveling together in 1958 to Moscow to try convincing Khrushchev to support German reunification. The mission failed, and Die Welt shifted slightly to the right.

A Newspaper in the shadow of the wall

The 1960s were turbulent for the young Federal Republic. Political power struggles, new governments, coalitions, and youth uprisings marked the era. Die Welt was seen as an opponent of Adenauer, largely due to articles criticizing his policies as one-sided and overly Western-focused. The newspaper openly challenged certain government decisions, supporting protests such as the 1964 student demonstrations.

Both Zehrer and Springer favored a unified Germany. The latter dreamed of having his publishing house in Berlin and began building a new office there. However, enthusiasm waned when the Berlin Wall divided the city. It became clear that a united country remained a dream for many. Hopes briefly rose when Willy Brandt became Berlin’s mayor, but not for long. The two men became opponents, a shift reflected in the newspaper.

The building was completed next to the Wall (1966), but the main office, including Die Welt’s newsroom, remained in Hamburg. A Berlin branch was opened, but it wasn’t the same as a headquarters. That would come later.

The Wall was a recurring topic in the newspaper, especially on anniversaries of its construction. However, articles never mocked or incited opposition. Instead, the residents of West Berlin were praised for their discipline, humility, and silent solidarity. Then-head of the Cultural Policy section, Bernd Nellessen, wrote: …it wasn’t noise but silence that defined the day. Above all, West Berlin protested the wall in silence, not with noise. Silence everywhere - an unorganized silence of solidarity.

And although people gradually became accustomed to the Wall, Die Welt reminded readers of its presence each year. On August 13, 1968, it wrote: …This wall remains a monster, an anachronistic monument of Stalinist isolation. But over time, these messages were met with indifference. As columnist Marianne Eichholz noted: For years, efforts to chip away at the wall with words and actions have been seen as irresponsible, troublesome, even criminal.


Springer’s dreams of a unified Germany, a fallen Wall, and a Berlin-based headquarters didn’t come true until the 1990s.

Nationwide reach and cooperation with Bild

Zehrer was a strong leader and manager. Die Welt expanded its reach, connecting with an ever-growing audience. It became a national newspaper:

• with a clear structure
• offering substantial current affairs content
• featuring reliable information
• with exclusive correspondent reports
• and open discussions

In 1961, color appeared in the newspaper for the first time. A blue banner above the title displayed the day`s main topic. The Forum section, dedicated to debates and controversy since 1955, was joined by Geistige Welt (Spiritual World), which became a leading voice in German cultural opinion. Top contributors included critics Friedrich Luft and Willy Haas. In 1964, Die Welt der Literatur, edited by Zehrer himself, was launched as an independent supplement.

The newsroom collaborated with Bild, unsurprisingly, as both papers belonged to the same publishing house. Journalists from both teams shared experiences and news, often working side by side. Joint reports were produced, such as the 1962 feature on Cuba, the crisis, and Fidel Castro.

Hans Zehrer played a crucial role in growing and promoting Die Welt. He led the paper into the mainstream of German journalism and built a team of influential figures in the field. Illness forced him to step down in May 1966. He died on August 23.

Springer appointed Herman Starke as editor-in-chief. Not everyone supported this choice - Starke had a background in radio and joined from Deutschlandfunk. He led the paper for three years during a globally eventful period: space exploration, the Cold War, the Six-Day War, the Prague Spring, and domestic unrest during the 1968 Movement. The Springer publishing house came under fire: media concentration, political manipulation through its publications, incitement against protestors, and the downplaying of student deaths. The campaign against Springer began in 1967 with the slogan Enteignet Springer (expropriate Springer). In February 1968, violent demonstrations erupted, with the Bild newsroom damaged. Die Welt was spared, but by April, protestors in major cities blocked newspaper deliveries.

All Springer newspapers, including Die Welt, condemned the riots, particularly after the death of photographer Klaus Frings. The unrest gradually subsided following government measures introduced in June. But problems at Die Welt persisted. By the late 1960s, falling circulation and financial woes marked the end of its nationwide expansion.

Efforts to attack the SPD and Willy Brandt also failed. Despite broader troubles at the publishing house, Die Welt was its biggest loss-maker. Starke could not reverse the trend, prompting Springer to appoint Herbert Kremp as editor-in-chief in 1969.

FAZ wants to buy Die Welt

The choice of Kremp was no coincidence. As his successor Claus Jacobi later wrote: he preferred carving stone to shaping clay, and thus always attracted enemy fire. At that time, the "enemy" for Springer was Chancellor Willy Brandt and the social-liberal coalition. But attacks failed, and the 1972 election was a personal defeat for Springer.

Herbert Kremp wasn’t a typical editor-in-chief. He aspired to be a pianist but studied philosophy, history, political science, and economics. Before Die Welt, he worked at newspapers in Berlin and Bonn. He disliked being desk-bound. Twice during his tenure, he handed over control of the newsroom - Wolf Schneider took over from 1973 to 1974, and Peter Boenisch from 1978 for three years.

During this time, Kremp traveled extensively and became Die Welt`s correspondent in Beijing. He returned to the newsroom in 1981 and in 1985 became the publisher. His time in China yielded a series of reports across Springer newspapers. For A Rainy Day in Beijing, he received the Theodor Wolff Prize and in 1984 the Konrad Adenauer Prize for local journalism.


Kremp’s writing - its style, vocabulary, and themes - attracted a large readership. He was a master of language and a sharp analyst, evident in his editorial articles. Before earning his accolades, Kremp had to face the paper’s troubles. The early 1970s brought attacks on the publisher: delivery blockades, bomb threats, author boycotts, and journalist resignations. Trying to save a sinking ship, Kremp didn’t focus on boosting circulation, which continued to drop. Regional expansion halted.

Springer considered selling part of the company but backed out at the last moment. Then, Wolf Schneider, a master of strategy, took charge. He toned down the paper’s political rhetoric and redesigned the layout. But the revamp failed, and by July 1974, losses of around 40 million marks were reported.

That autumn, Springer decided to sell Die Welt to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung group. Negotiations were held on October 22 in Berlin, but the deal fell through due to financial disagreements - one side asked too much, the other offered too little.

Kremp stepped in with a solution: move the newsroom to Bonn, then the capital of West Germany. The argument was that Die Welt would become the capital’s daily paper, enhancing its political clout. Springer, though hesitant, agreed. In 1975, the newsroom relocated to Bonn.

Farewell to Hamburg

Not everyone welcomed the move. Many journalists stayed in Hamburg, as did Springer himself. The Bonn team included 80 journalists and 70 technical staff. Printing remained in Hamburg, Essen-Kettwig, and Berlin - far from the capital - but it was hoped that technology would bridge the gap. The final Hamburg edition was published on May 17, 1975, and the first Bonn edition appeared on May 19. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned.

Back in charge, Kremp brought in Claus Jacobi - a former Der Spiegel editor who had once been arrested for criticizing national defense. However, the move to Bonn failed to produce the desired results. Circulation dropped, and the vision of political influence faded.

Once again, Springer reopened talks to sell the paper. On January 30, 1976, secret negotiations began with FAZ at the Frankfurter Hof. Springer agreed to all proposed conditions. The deal was set to be signed on February 6 and announced publicly on February 9. A letter to staff was ready:

As of Tuesday, February 10, 1976, “Die Welt” will cease to be an independent daily. On Wednesday, it will appear within “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung,” which will now also carry the subtitle “Die Welt.”

Peter Tamm and Ernest Cramer flew to Frankfurt for the signing but returned empty-handed. The day before, Springer had pulled out. In hindsight, it was the right call. The story of the failed sale only became public years later, as both Springer and FAZ representatives were bound to secrecy.

After a difficult start to 1976, Kremp left for China again, and Peter Boenisch took over the newsroom. Boenisch brought not only journalistic experience but deep knowledge of the Springer company, having joined in 1959. He had led Bild during its most successful era. Expectations for Die Welt were just as high.

As Kremp still officially held the editor-in-chief title, Boenisch was dubbed the president of the editor-in-chief. He started by initiating editorial meetings. He had full decision-making authority, which initially caused unrest in a team long used to tense conditions. But he proved to be a liberal, empathetic boss who understood both the staff and the paper’s challenges. At the same time, he was strict and demanded high standards. He didn’t tolerate celebrity behavior - the newspaper was a team effort.

At the time, the paper had a circulation of 204,000 - well below FAZ’s - and an annual deficit of 30 million marks. Boenisch methodically rebuilt the paper’s image. As he said: prestige and reputation matter. He was a supporter of German-Russian relations (his mother was Russian) and often addressed the topic in his columns. On May 19, 1983, he was appointed head of Helmut Kohl’s press office. He returned to the publishing house in 1990 as a columnist. In 1981, Herbert Kremp returned to the newsroom, and Die Welt slowly emerged from its crisis.

War for the editor’s chair after Springer

In September 1985, Springer passed away. His death sparked disputes within the board - arguments over succession, leadership roles, and shares disrupted the already fragile atmosphere in the newsroom. A younger generation, mainly in their forties, began to assert itself. Leading the way were Manfred Schell and Peter Gillies. Schell became editor-in-chief.

Since 1975, Schell had been Die Welt`s correspondent in Bonn and Frankfurt am Main. He understood the region and its people. He recruited skilled journalists in politics, business, literature, science, and education. Renowned thinkers such as Ratzinger, Popper, and Kroetz didn’t need much convincing to collaborate. He shaped a light and modern paper. This fresh tone was visible on all 20 pages.

Supporting his innovative approach was his deputy, business journalist Peter Gillies. The two worked together harmoniously, aware it was a transitional period. The goal was relocating the main newsroom to Berlin. At the time, German reunification was a hot topic. The communist thaw sweeping Europe brought hope.


Despite initial concerns, the Die Welt team found its footing in the capital. Gradually, the paper improved its reputation, though it still reported financial losses. The editorial team was divided into sections, mirroring the paper`s layout. Politics, Culture, Sports, and Economy were the core departments, with teasers featured on the front page.

Popular columns included Aus Aller Welt (From Around the World), Meinungen (Opinions), and Forum, which featured reader letters. The business section Wirtschaft had loyal followers, as did the cartoons and caricatures, especially those by Klaus Böhle.

Schell ensured the paper`s content was timely and appealing. He demanded professionalism from himself and his staff. His main focus areas included:

• reunification
• support for Israel’s right to exist
• strengthening the free-market social economy
• expanding the European community
• fortifying the Atlantic defense alliance

He created and hosted the column WELT im Gespräch (Welt in Conversation). His interviewees included philosopher Karl Popper, Marlene Dietrich, and Václav Havel. He also questioned Chancellors Helmut Schmidt and Helmut Kohl. As Die Welt journalist Dieter Stolle noted:

He possesses an empathetic persistence in conversation that allows him to draw unexpected insights from his interviewees - often going beyond their official positions.

Finally Berlin. At last

On Wednesday, April 2, 1986, Die Welt published a special anniversary issue celebrating its 40th birthday. This time, it was 120 pages long and included a special supplement: Die Welt in der wir lesen. Invited guests, collaborators, and journalists reflected on the paper’s four decades through economic, cultural, and political lenses. Constructive criticism was welcomed. The tone was hopeful.

The issue spotlighted figures tied to the paper - former and current editors, correspondents like Heinz Schewe (Vienna) and Fritz Wirth (USA), section founders, and technical staff. Humorous sketches, including ones where the paper itself played a role, were recalled. History and retrospective articles were included. Flowers and well-wishes rounded out the celebration.

When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, hopes soared across Germany for reunification, and among Die Welt’s journalists for relocation to Berlin. In-depth reports from Berlin appeared in the November 11 and 12 issues. Correspondents reported street celebrations, and photos by Amin Akhtar filled the columns.

In 1993, Axel Springer`s dream came true: Die Welt moved its headquarters to Kochstraße in Berlin. It wasn’t a complete success, as the relocation happened without Manfred Schell, who - for unknown reasons - was dismissed. Peter Gillies and Claus Jacobi jointly took over. Jacobi had long planned to retire, so daily operations fell to Gillies.

A new location but the same readers. With them - and younger generations - in mind, work began on launching the paper’s website, which debuted in 1995 under the name Welt Online. The print edition also improved, boosting circulation to 209,677 copies by early 1994.

A breath of fresh air - then a full-blown gust

The launch of the website coincided with a change in leadership. Gillies returned to the business section, Jacobi retired, and Thomas Loffelholz became editor-in-chief. Loffelholz came from Stuttgarter Zeitung, bringing experience and an openness to new technology. He was the first in Germany to bring a newspaper online.

Despite being 63, Loffelholz brought fresh energy to the Berlin newsroom. He championed debate and discussion. On one hand, he preserved the paper’s independence; on the other, he emphasized understanding its readers. He attempted to bring more liberalism into the conservative editorial world. He was a demanding yet fascinating leader. Early in his tenure, he stirred controversy by commenting on the Kruzifix-Beschluss - a May 16, 1995 decree on hanging crucifixes in classrooms. Leo Kirch, then a shareholder, demanded his dismissal, but the board chose to keep him.

In 1998, he launched a Saturday supplement, Literarische Welt (The Literary World), reviving a 1920s publication. Its subtitle read: Founded by Willy Haas, 1925. An annual literary award was also created, offering €10,000 to writers worldwide. The first winner in 1999 was German author, lawyer, and scholar Bernhard Schlink, best known for his novel The Reader.

After three years, Loffelholz retired. From May 1, 1998, Mathias Döpfner took over. If Loffelholz brought a breath of fresh air, Döpfner unleashed a full spring gust - with great results.

• He introduced full-color printing
• Redesigned the layout
• Revised content
• Changed fonts
• Hired new writers
• Added more culture and a lighter tone across sections
• Gradually reduced staffing

Döpfner, a trained musicologist, brought a lighter, more intuitive approach, attuned to everyday readers and unmoved by political dramatics. His leadership boosted circulation - from 220,000 in 1998 to 250,000 copies by the new millennium.

Direction: online first

In 2001, the newspaper’s journalists formed an alliance with three other European dailies. In May, the European Dailies Alliance (EDA) was established, comprising Die Welt, Spain’s ABC, the UK’s The Daily Telegraph, and France’s Le Figaro. The four dailies committed to:

• expanding each paper’s international reach through editorial collaboration
• recruiting well-known foreign writers
• offering privileged access to each other’s databases
• sharing links to partner papers on their respective websites
• editorial staff exchanges
• leveraging cooperation in journalism education and advertising business

Wolfram Weimer, then editor-in-chief, summarized the agreement: Through this collaboration, DIE WELT will fulfill its claim of being a cosmopolitan and thus internationally high-quality newspaper in the future.

At this time, Döpfner was offered the role of CEO of Axel Springer AG - and he accepted. In 2002, he assumed the position. That same year, alongside Weimer, he merged Die Welt with Berliner Morgenpost, and in 2004, with new editor-in-chief Jan-Eric Peters, they launched a youth-oriented version of the newspaper, Welt Kompakt - a 32-page condensed edition.

Peters led the newsroom for only a year and a half (January 1, 2003 - June 6, 2004) but returned on February 15, 2010, staying for five years. He never left the publishing group, however - he oversaw the establishment of the FreeTech Academy, a journalism school within the publishing house, serving as its director. He also spearheaded the digitization of all publications, which the publisher fully committed to. By 2006, print and digital had been integrated under the guiding principle of online first - a novel approach at the time.


From June 7, 2004, to December 31, 2006, the newsroom was led by Roger Köppel, who modernized the digital division into Germany’s largest newsroom under the motto Online First. In 2006, the Welt Mobil mobile app launched.

Next came Thomas Schmid, who four decades earlier had called to expropriate Springer. Under his leadership, in 2008, Die Welt posted its first profit in years, with circulation climbing again (280,000 copies). His mission was to ideologically clean up the group, as some journalists had gone overboard in their opinions, compromising the newspaper’s neutrality and alienating politically diverse audiences.

In January 2010, another new supplement was launched, this time for those who liked to read in the skies. For Lufthansa passengers, the two-page Welt Aktuell tabloid was produced in an edition of 30,000 copies.

On February 15, Jan-Eric Peters returned as editor-in-chief of all WELT publications after Schmid, who had turned 65, moved to the board. Peters stayed for five years, during which he launched the English-language version Welt Internacional.

Before the English edition was fully developed, on November 22, 2010, the 64-year-old Die Welt appeared in a completely redesigned form:

• entirely reimagined
• new logo
• larger font (Freight)
• fewer but larger and sharper images
• wider text columns
• an additional page in the Meinungen (Opinions) section
• a new section titled Fortschritt & Wissen (Progress and Knowledge)

On October 1, 2010, the first edition of the so-called artistic version of the newspaper was published. This annual issue is entirely designed by renowned visual artists. It carries the title Die Welt der/des… (followed by the artist’s name). The debut edition was created by painter, sculptor, and graphic artist Georg Baselitz. So far, 12 editions have been published; the latest appeared on May 20, 2020, envisioned and executed by British artist and photographer David Hockney.

Radical transformation

In 2012, Peters launched another phase of digitalization under the motto Online to print. A new content management system (CMS) was created, a modern newsroom for all editorial offices was built (2013/2014), and a startup subsidiary called Upday was launched. After nearly a decade of transformation, the benefits were clear:

• Readership and reach expanded significantly.
• Workflows became streamlined and digitized.
• The new newsroom and digitization attracted many young talents to the publisher.
• The value chain expanded - articles now appeared in up to ten titles and formats.
• New digital products opened new markets.

This radical transformation was only possible because digital thinking was not only expected, but encouraged. Today, it dominates the entire company, declared Peters. Die Welt had become a multimedia brand. On December 9, 2013, the Axel Springer SE board announced the acquisition of TV channel N24. In February 2014, the channel’s newsroom was merged with Die Welt to create multimedia news for the entire Welt group. Stefan Aust, co-owner of N24, became head of the newly formed WeltN24 GmbH.

That same year, in 2013, the publisher sold Morgenpost and Hamburger Abendblatt to the Funke Group, with an agreement that Die Welt would provide national content for both papers in exchange for Morgenpost covering Berlin and Abendblatt Hamburg. When the agreement with HA expired in May 2014, a local 16-person office was established, but the Berlin issue was overlooked. As a result, from September 1, 2015, there was no local Berlin edition. The situation was only stabilized by December.

In November, a new logo was introduced - already used in digital formats since July. Its creator was Erik Spiekermann, a designer, graphic artist, and typographer.


When the paper finally gained momentum, Peters took over as Chief Product Officer at Upday on January 1, 2016, and Die Welt was temporarily led by a trio: Stefan Aust, Ulf Poschardt, and Arne Teetz, with Aust as chief. With these staffing changes came an editorial reorganization:

• the number of sections was reduced from 16 to 8,
• structures were streamlined,
• a strict division was made between external and internal service,
• editorial work was split into research/investigation and production,
• a freemium payment model was introduced.

Aust aimed for "a certain standardization" to cut costs and free up editorial resources. The goal of full-blooded journalism: put more effort into generating exclusive stories to strengthen the brand and outperform competitors. Naturally, cost-cutting meant job reductions - 50 positions were planned for elimination.

As Aust`s plan was implemented, Die Welt celebrated its 70th anniversary in April. On April 2, a collector’s edition was released, designed by Udo Lindenberg, who was born the same year as the paper. The editorial team announced: The anniversary edition will be published in two parts. Thematically, it follows the motto “Others think, we lead,” which runs through every section. Among the many well-wishes were congratulations from Chancellor Angela Merkel.

On September 6, Aust handed over the editorial leadership to Ulf Poschardt, becoming the paper’s publisher. At age 70, he stepped back from daily duties. Poschardt led the newsroom until February 28, 2019, focusing primarily on digital editions. By June 2016, Die Welt had 75,000 subscribers, who on December 29 received a revamped and modernized website, www.welt.de.

While the digital division thrived - a surprise to no one - the print edition’s circulation steadily declined, which was also no shock. Since 2013, when Die Welt had a circulation of 250,000, it dropped by over 100,000 copies in just five years. As the flagship title of the publisher, the newspaper was preserved, but smaller publications and some supplements were cut. This included Die Welt Kompakt, the Hamburg local edition, and the sports section.

First woman at the helm

The year 2017 for Die Welt journalists was marked by terrorist attacks in Europe, the war in Somalia, and Brexit. In Germany, the main topic was the September parliamentary elections, but early in the year, attention focused on colleague and correspondent Deniz Yücel, arrested on February 17 in Turkey for propaganda on behalf of a terrorist organization and inciting the public. Yücel only saw a Turkish court after 13 days in custody and was convicted. Angela Merkel and German lawmakers intervened, and protests were held in Berlin and Yücel’s hometown. He was released on February 16, 2018. On June 28, 2019, Turkey’s Constitutional Court ruled that Yücel’s detention was unlawful.

In 2019, the Welt group underwent a revolution. Editorial units were split and placed under individual editors-in-chief. Ulf Poschardt became head of the entire group, while for the first time in Die Welt’s history, a woman - Dagmar Rosenfeld - took over as editor-in-chief on March 1.

Though Rosenfeld specialized in political journalism, she gained fame as the wife of politician Christian Lindner. Before the 2017 election, she published styling tips for politicians in Die Welt, advising her husband: “next time you pick a coat for an ad, ask your wife.” This drew criticism from the German Press Council, which ultimately deemed the statement a journalist’s objective bias.

Rosenfeld led the team during the COVID-19 pandemic, a difficult period. The drop in circulation in 2019 deepened in 2020, hitting just 70,000 copies. But the following year brought improvement. On October 6, 2020, the publishing house inaugurated its new headquarters at 65 Axel Springer Strasse, which houses all newspapers, TV operations, and the digital division. As reported by Mark Bartl of krewssnews:

The new Axel Springer building offers 52,000 square meters of workspace for over 3,000 employees and is defined by open, transparent architecture. With a 45-meter-high illuminated atrium built on the former border, two building sections visually confront each other. Ten stacked floors and 13 bridges connect them, encouraging physical encounters in the digital age.


A new HQ and a new editorial concept. Since September 6, 2021, the paper follows the 5+2 system:

• core editions from Monday to Friday
• no Saturday edition, replaced by a double Sunday edition WamS
• shorter, more concise texts
• fewer pages - 16 instead of 24
• only two topics on the front page
• pages 2 and 3 present news in a focused and structured way
• lower price - 2 euros instead of 2.80

There was also a promise to bring back the Saturday edition, but for now, it remains shelved. On January 1, 2022, Dagmar Rosenfeld became editor-in-chief of Welt am Sonntag, passing Die Welt’s leadership to colleague Jennifer Wilton, who has worked for the group since 2006 and, since 2017, led the paper’s Investigative and Reportage Division.

Two women, two widely read titles, two top positions. Hopefully, readers will recognize their impact - because the men in the publishing house certainly already have.

Die Welt timeline:

• 1946, April 2 - the first issue of Die Welt was published
• 1947 - cooperation began with the London Times news service
• 1947, April 2 - the newspaper logo appeared
• 1948, August 1 - launch of the weekend edition “Welt am Sonntag”
• 1950 - women’s supplement “Das Neue Blatt” was introduced
• 1961 - blue color added, headline banner with daily topic
• 1964 - cultural supplement “Die Welt der Literatur” released
• 1968, February - blockade of newspaper distribution to sales points
• 1975, May - editorial headquarters moved to Bonn
• 1986, April 2 - 40th anniversary edition published with a special insert
• 1993 - relocation to Berlin
• 1995 - launch of the “Welt Online” website
• 1998 - debut of “Literarische Welt”
• 1999 - Die Welt established an annual literary award
• 2000 - complete redesign of the newspaper, full-color printing
• 2001, May - Die Welt co-founded the European Dailies Alliance (EDA)
• 2004 - youth edition “Welt Kompakt” launched
• 2006 - mobile app “Welt Mobil” introduced
• 2010, January - “Welt Aktuell” created for Lufthansa passengers
• 2010, October 1 - first artistic edition “Die Welt der/des…” published
• 2010, November 22 - Die Welt unveiled with a full redesign and new logo
• 2012 - English edition “Welt Internacional” launched
• 2012 - CMS system introduced
• 2013 - modern newsroom created for all Welt titles
• 2014, February - Die Welt and N24 newsrooms merged
• 2015 - startup subsidiary Upday launched
• 2015, September-December - no local edition in Berlin
• 2015, November - Die Welt received a new logo again
• 2016, December 29 - website modernized, new address: welt.de
• 2020, October 6 - new headquarters officially opened
• 2021, September 6 - redesign of the newspaper’s appearance and editorial workflow (5+2 system)

Sources:

• https://www.welt.de/print/die_welt/vermischtes/article13045825/Im-Anfang-waren-die-Remigranten.html
• https://www.mediadb.eu/forum/zeitungsportraets/die-welt.html
• https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_Welt
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