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Süddeutsche Zeitung

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The Süddeutsche Zeitung, often called SZ, is a major daily newspaper in Germany. Based in Munich, Bavaria, it is considered one of the country's newspapers of record. This means it is viewed as a highly important and reliable source for news. The paper's editorial stance is described as progressive-liberal or centre-left. In German politics, liberalism can include various views, but SZ leans toward social-liberal and social-democratic ideas. This position often places it in opposition to more conservative groups in Bavaria.

Operating a major newspaper requires a complex organizational structure. The publication is managed by the Süddeutsche Verlag in Munich. Most of the company is owned by investment holdings. However, a small portion remains with the original publishing family, the Friedmanns. The current leadership includes editors-in-chief Wolfgang Krach and Judith Wittwer. Thomas Schaub serves as the chairman of the editorial board. The paper is printed in a specific size known as the Nordisch format.

The history of the SZ is closely tied to the end of World War II. It was first published on 6 October 1945. This was only five months after the war ended in Germany. It was the first daily newspaper approved by the U.S. military administration in Bavaria. The founders were August Schwingenstein, Edmund Goldschagg, and Franz Josef Schöningh. These men were chosen because they were "untainted" by the Nazi regime. For example, Goldschagg had been arrested by the Gestapo. They intended the paper to be a voice for freedom and a rejection of the totalitarian state.

Throughout its history, the newspaper has faced significant challenges. In October 2002, the paper faced a severe financial crisis. Declines in advertising revenue brought it to the brink of bankruptcy. It was saved by a 150 million euro investment from Südwestdeutsche Medien. This investment allowed the paper to continue operating, though it had to make changes. Over three years, the staff was reduced from 425 to 307 employees. The paper also closed a regional edition in Düsseldorf and a news section in Berlin.

One of the most significant aspects of the SZ is its investigative journalism. In early 2015, the paper received a massive 2.6-terabyte dataset from an anonymous source. This data contained confidential information regarding offshore companies. Working with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, the paper published the Panama Papers stories on 3 April 2016. In 2017, they investigated the Paradise Papers. This project involved a 1.4-terabyte dataset containing 13.4 million documents. The investigation revealed details about financial jurisdictions like Bermuda and Singapore.

The paper has also expanded into different types of media and publications. In 2004, it launched the Süddeutsche Bibliothek to offer famous 20th-century novels. This was followed by a series of influential movies on DVD. The newspaper also created SZ Wissen, a magazine focused on popular science. In 2005, they even released a series of children's books. These projects show how the newspaper seeks to reach readers through different interests.

Circulation numbers provide a look at the paper's reach over time. In the early 1990s, the circulation was around 400,000 copies. By 2001, it reached 436,000 copies and was among the top 100 European newspapers. In the first quarter of 2004, it averaged 441,955 copies. However, by 2022, the circulation had decreased to 284,503 copies. Despite these changes, the paper still reaches approximately 1.1 million readers every day. This massive daily readership maintains its influence across Germany and abroad.

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