How taz Defied Odds for 45 Yearsâand Now Plans Its Legacy
Founded in 1979, taz (die tageszeitung) was once expected to collapse within a year. Yet the independent newspaper has now thrived for nearly 45 years. Today, its focus shifts toward securing its future by encouraging supporters to leave a lasting financial legacy. taz began as a radical experiment in cooperative journalism. Early sceptics doubted its survival, but by the 1990s, it had stabilised its ownership structure. The newspaper now holds around 1,000 of its own sharesâa figure that has remained steady since the 1990s, even as total shares grew from 30,000 in the 1980s to over 25,000 today.
The original founders, once young rebels, are now retiring or nearing the end of their careers. To keep the paper independent, *taz* is asking supporters to bequeath their cooperative shares back to the newspaper instead of passing them to heirs. Once donated, these shares cannot be reclaimed, even in financial hardship. Beyond shares, the *taz Panter Foundation* offers another way to contribute. Supporters can name the foundation as a beneficiary in their wills, ensuring tax-exempt donations. The foundation funds young journalists, critical reporting, and persecuted media workers worldwide. Despite a changing media landscape, *taz* still upholds its founding values. The goal now is to preserve the newspaper and hand it over to a new generation of readers and journalists.
The cooperative model that saved taz in its early years now faces a generational shift. By encouraging bequests and share donations, the newspaper aims to stay independent and true to its roots. The approach ensures that its missionâcritical, uncompromising journalismâcontinues for decades to come.
