In the service of the news: New scientific representation reveals 75-year history of the dpa

In the service of the news: New scientific representation reveals 75-year history of the dpa

in the service of the message: The importance of the dpa for the German media landscape

The German Press Agency (dpa) celebrates its 75th anniversary and has now received a comprehensive presentation of its history for the first time. The book “In the Service of the Message” by the author Hans-Ulrich Wagner illuminates the change in the largest German news agency over the years. This scientifically based overall presentation is based on an extensive research project in which numerous unpublished files have been evaluated.

The history of the dpa is closely linked to the German media landscape. The company was founded in 1949 and has contributed significantly to journalism in Germany in the past 75 years. The book by Hans-Ulrich Wagner shows how the agency was always concerned about maintaining its political independence and using innovations in the field of technology. From an initial news agency, a comprehensive media group quickly developed that offers a variety of services related to the core business of news.

The dpa has around 170 shareholders, including primarily newspaper and magazine publishers as well as radio providers. The shareholder contract ensures that none of the shareholders can dominate the company. This unique model enables the dpa to maintain its independence and still serve a wide range of media in Germany.

The book "In the Service of the Message" comprises a total of 350 pages and offers a comprehensive overview of the history of the dpa from its foundation in 1949 to today's digital transformation. The author describes the different phases of development, from the beginning of post -war journalism to the challenges of today such as disinformation and media skepticism.

In addition to the main chapters, the book also contains separate striped lights that shed light on interesting aspects of the history of the dpa. These include the history of the "dpa-Villa" in Hamburg, portraits of important personalities and formative events such as the famous dpa picture from the Hecht jump Boris Beckers 1985 in Wimbledon. Particularly noteworthy is a chapter on the outstanding women at the dpa, who were able to prevail in an industry that was still predominantly dominated by men at the time.

The dpa has had a significant influence on reporting in Germany over the years. The agency delivers news to the media, companies and organizations every day. Your work is important to ensure diverse and independent reporting and to provide people in Germany with current information. The overall presentation of the history of the dpa offers an insight into the nature of this unique news agency and illustrates its importance for the German media landscape.

Photo: Hans-Ulrich Wagner