After three centuries of daily print, Austria's oldest newspaper moves entirely online

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Founded in 1703, the Wiener Zeitung was once the official mouthpiece of the Imperial Court. It survived wars, political shifts, and even closure by the Nazis. Yet, in 2023, the world's longest-running daily newspaper ended its print run, sparking protests and a major debate over the future of journalism.

First published as the Wiennerisches Diarium on 8 August 1703, the Wiener Zeitung began as a weekly chronicle of notable Viennese events, from aristocratic births to city departures. By 1810, it had evolved into the official government newspaper of Austria, and by 1813, it began daily publication. For centuries, it served as a vital record, providing exclusive information from the Imperial Court and, later, acting as the mandatory gazette for legal announcements and statutes.

The paper's history is marked by significant turbulence. It was shuttered by the Nazis following the 1938 Anschluss, with its official journal operations ceasing entirely by February 1940. It resumed publication in September 1945, shortly after the end of World War II. In 1998, the paper transitioned into a limited liability company owned by the Austrian government, maintaining its role as the official venue for commercial register changes and civil service vacancies.

The end of its daily print era on 30 June 2023 followed years of controversy. Critics, including entrepreneurs, argued that the paper’s reliance on mandatory legal advertising fees was anti-competitive. In 2021, the government proposed ending these requirements, citing European Union digital standards. While the newspaper won a 2023 European Publishing Award for its digital relaunch, the transition resulted in significant staff reductions, leaving only 20 editorial employees to manage its new monthly print and online-only format.

The claim to being the world's oldest daily newspaper remains complex. While the Wiener Zeitung held this title at the end of its daily print run, other publications like Italy's Gazzetta di Mantova, founded in 1664, and The London Gazette, dating to 1665, also stake claims to the title. Regardless of the record, the shift marks a profound change in how a centuries-old institution interacts with the modern digital landscape.

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