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The Kronen Zeitung is Austria's largest newspaper.
Its positioning is right wing and catholic-conservative.
First released on April 11 1959, it soon became
Austria's most influential but also controversial tabloid newspaper.
The Kronen Zeitung was founded by Hans Dichand, who remained
its owner and editor-in-chief for many years. Recently he
his son Christof has taken over the position. At the moment (November 2004), there is a power struggle between the Dichand Family and the WAZ, a German media group that holds 50% of the company. One can only hope that the WAZ will impose a less extreme policy on the paper whould it gain control.
The Kronen Zeitung has often been accused of
abusing its near monopoly to manipulate
public opinion in Austria.
Its many critics blame its populist style and emphasis on
the topic of immigration for the spreading of fear
and hatred among its readers.
Many in the Austrian intelligentia hold it responsible for the victory of the
far right Freedom Party in the 2000 election, saying
its journalism is selective to an unacceptable level.
Famously, when the left-leaning Austrian writer
Elfriede Jelinek was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature
in 2004, a major event for Austria, the Kronen Zeitung's
headlines read 'You may loose your driving license' and
the event remained completely unmentioned.
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