Vienna’s 320-year-old newspaper finally rides into the sunset

For any institution which has survived for more than 300 years, bringing the curtain down is heart-breaking. That is the case with one of the oldest newspapers, Wiener Zeitung. This Vienna-based paper ended its daily print run on Friday after 320 years.

Interestingly its print edition’s final front page read: “320 years, 12 presidents, 10 emperors, 2 republics, 1 newspaper.”

It was first published under the name Wiennerische’s Diarium and was launched on August 8, 1703. Owned by the Austrian Government it was editorially independent and suffered a huge dip in revenue in recent times.

The paper which is considered as a quality publication included a wide range of articles covering domestic and foreign news, and culture and business.

For its final daily print edition it interviewed one of Austria’s most famous personalities, Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Hollywood actor and US politician.

However, the paper will continue to operate online and plans a monthly print edition.