How taz defied the odds and thrives after 40 years
Who would have believed it back in 1979, when industry insiders gave the upstart with the odd name—taz (die tageszeitung)—less than a year to survive? Yet here we are, with taz now marking roughly 40 years in existence.
To this day, the paper thrives on fresh starts and a passion for change. Yet it has remained true to its founding principles and values—just as its staff have, and just as you, our readers, have. Forty years is a long time. The newspaper market has transformed irrevocably, and even the taz pioneers—those in their early or mid-twenties who went all-in on this independent daily—are now retired, or at least nearing that milestone.
Now, the focus is on preserving what we've built and passing taz on to the next generation. For many, their commitment to taz—whether through cooperative shares or donations to the taz Panter Foundation—has become a lifelong project.
We're often asked how people can support taz beyond what they're already doing. Here are three ways to deepen your involvement:
Option 1: Bequeath Your Shares If you want the funds you've already invested to stay where they can do the most good, you can bequeath your cooperative shares to taz. This means that, in the event of your death, the value of your shares remains with taz.
Option 2: Name the Foundation as Beneficiary Do you want to help young people break into journalism, strengthen critical reporting in Germany and worldwide, or give persecuted journalists a respite in Berlin—while also making a tax-exempt bequest? If so, the taz Panter Foundation is the right choice for you.
Option 3: Leave a Legacy Is it important to you that an independent newspaper like taz endures for future generations? You can directly support taz by leaving it a financial legacy in your will.
Below, we've compiled answers to some of the most frequently asked questions:
- Why don't you encourage me to pass my shares on to my children or heirs to strengthen the cooperative?
- Why does taz suddenly want to hold so many shares itself—isn't that undemocratic and a worrying path?
- If I face serious financial hardship in old age, can I still reclaim my money even after bequeathing my shares to you?
- I don't want to wait—I'd like to transfer my shares to taz during my lifetime. Is that possible?
