Liechtensteiner Volksblatt

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Liechtensteiner Volksblatt
Liechtensteiner Volksblatt, 12 February 2021.png
Front cover of the print edition, 12 February 2021
OwnerLiechtensteiner Volksblatt AG
Founder Johann Franz Fetz
Founded16 August 1878;147 years ago (1878-08-16)
Ceased publication4 March 2023;2 years ago (2023-03-04)
Political alignment Progressive Citizens' Party (formerly)
Language German
Headquarters Schaan, Liechtenstein
Country Liechtenstein
Website volksblatt.li (dead link)

The Liechtensteiner Volksblatt was a daily newspaper serving Liechtenstein. It was published by the Liechtensteiner Volksblatt AG and peaked with a circulation of 9,000 copies in 2005. The editorial office was located in Schaan. Founded in 1878, the newspaper was considered the party newspaper of the Progressive Citizens' Party from 1918 onwards. In March 2023, the newspaper ceased publication due to declining subscriptions and rising costs.

Contents

History

Johann Franz Fetz was the founder and first editor of the Liechtensteiner Volksblatt Johann Franz Fetz (cropped).jpg
Johann Franz Fetz was the founder and first editor of the Liechtensteiner Volksblatt

The newspaper was founded by priest and historian Johann Franz Fetz, with its first publication on 16 August 1878. [1] [2] It was the third attempt to establish a independent newspaper in Liechtenstein, behind the Liechtensteinischen Landeszeitung and Liechtensteinische Wochenzeitung. [3] The newspaper was ideologically Catholic conservative, but had no political agenda. [1] From 1894 to 1895, a dispute between the Landtag of Liechtenstein and governor Friedrich Stellwag von Carion arose regarding the Landtag's powers, which resulted in a temporary censorship of the newspaper. [4]

The Volksblatt was the only newspaper in Liechtenstein until 1914 when Oberrheinische Nachrichten (later Liechtensteiner Nachrichten and then Liechtensteiner Vaterland from 1936) was founded. Shortly after the founding of the Christian-Social People's Party in 1918, the Nachrichten became the official newspaper of the party. Similarly, the Volksblatt became the newspaper of the newly-formed Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) the same year. [3] From the 1930s, the media landscape in Liechtenstein was dominated by the "black" Volksblatt and "red" Vaterland. [1]

Up until 1918, it was published as a weekly newspaper, until it began printing twice weekly from January 1919. The company gradually increased its rate of publication, from three editions per week starting in July 1927, expanding to four in January 1962, and then five times a week in January 1978. From January 1985, the paper was printed every day, except Sunday. From 1918, the newspaper was published by the Press Association of the FBP, then the Liechtensteiner Volksblatt Publishing House from 1932 to 2006, and finally by the Liechtensteiner Volksblatt AG from 2006 to 2023. It launched its own website in 2000. The newspaper was primarily financed through subscriptions, state funding, and the sale of advertisements. [1]

The Volksblatt was the most circulated newspaper in Liechtenstein until the 1970s, and peaked at 9,000 in 2005. From there circulation steadily declined to 4,000 in 2022. [1] In February 2023, Christine Wohlwend, the president of the board of directors, announced that the newspaper would cease publication in March due to declining subscriptions and rising costs. [5] As part of the shutdown, all subscribers automatically became subscribers to the Vaterland. [6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Marxer, Wilfred (8 January 2025). "Liechtensteiner Volksblatt". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  2. ↑ Näscher, Franz (31 December 2011). "Fetz, Johann Franz". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  3. 1 2 Marxer, Wilfred (27 January 2025). "Presse". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  4. ↑ Wanger, Harald (31 December 2011). "Stellwag by Carion, Friedrich". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  5. ↑ Leovac, Katarina (February 12, 2023). ""Wir haben etliche Möglichkeiten diskutiert "" [We discussed a number of options]. Liechtensteiner Vaterland (in German). Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  6. ↑ "Liechtenstein's oldest newspaper closing after 145 years". Daily Express . 2 March 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
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