Spiegel Online
| URL | www.spiegel.de |
|---|---|
| Commercial? | Yes (Premium content available) |
| Type of site | Online Magazine |
| Registration | Optional |
| Available language(s) | German, English |
| Owner | Spiegel Online GmbH |
| Launched | 25 October 1994 |
Spiegel Online (or short: SPON), the online version of German weekly news magazine Der Spiegel, is one the most visited news websites written in the German language.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Company
Spiegel Online (abbreviated SPON) is run by Spiegel Online GmbH. Like manager-magazin.de and Quality Channel it is part of SPIEGELnet GmbH, which is a sister company of the publishing house. The editorial offices of Spiegel Online and the print version of Der Spiegel are separated in regards to location, personnel and business. Consequently the authors of Spiegel Online receive different fees. In 2006 Spiegel Online's turnover was €15 million while the earnings were €2 million.[2]
[edit] The beginnings
Spiegel Online went online on 25 October 1994[3], thereby being the first online version of an established print magazine, even before Time Magazine. Initially, it was available only to Compuserve users.[4] The domain www.spiegel.de was only inaugurated one year later.
[edit] Content
In the beginning the content consisted of hand-picked articles from the print version. But in 1995 already a column named „Scanner“ started presenting content which was only available online. The very next year Spiegel Online's design was overhauled and henceforth it would feature breaking news too.[5] Still Spiegel Online keeps on presenting selected articles from the print version (while the rest of the print publication is premium content and offered as PDF files) and occasionally also articles that authors of the print version contribute exclusively to Spiegel Online.
[edit] Editorial office
Eighty people work regularly in Hamburg for Spiegel Online[6] , supported by freelancers and offices in Berlin, other German cities, and locations abroad. The editorial office also cooperates with a variety of news agencies, like AFP, AP, dpa and Reuters.
[edit] Editor in charge
From 2000 until 2008 Mathias Müller von Blumencron was the chief editor. On 5 October he became together with Georg Mascolo the new chief editor of the print version, hereby succeeding Stefan Aust. He bequeathed his former function to Rüdiger Ditz and Wolfgang Büchner. Since July Rüdiger Ditz leads the editorial office of Spiegel Online single-handed.
[edit] English version
On 21 October 2004, an official English version called "Spiegel International" was introduced.
[edit] References
- ^ IVW: online usage data of IVW-certified websites
- ^ Medien Mittweida: „Spiegel Online ist das Maß aller Dinge“, 10. Mai 2007
- ^ "Bereits am 25. Oktober 1994 konnte man auch den SPIEGEL im Internet finden.". http://einestages.spiegel.de/external/ShowTopicAlbumBackground/a23173/l5/l0/F.html#featuredEntry. Retrieved 2011-07-31.
- ^ Julia Bönisch (2006): Meinungsführer oder Populärmedium? Das journalistische Profil von Spiegel Online
- ^ Spiegel Online: Aussehen von Spiegel Online 1996
- ^ Spiegel-Gruppe: Spiegel Online
