Newspaper of the German minority in Denmark wins the first International Award for Local Media

Since February 2021, Der Nordschleswiger, the newspaper of the German minority in Denmark, has primarily functioned as a digital newspaper. The media recently won the first International Award for Local Media in the EU category, presented by the Catalan media association AMIC. This award recognises the newspaper's transformation from a daily print publication to a digital platform that now extends its reach beyond its primary audience, the German minority in Danish North Schleswig.

Our researchers, Sergiusz Bober and Craig Willis, examined the transition process during the digitalization of Der Nordschleswiger and analysed the strategic changes, focusing also on the theoretical reflections concerning the role of minority language media. They argue that the shift to digital platforms provides opportunities for such outlets to increase readership within their target communities and enhance their role as deliberative spaces that bring minority communities together. Their findings were published in the form of a book chapter (Routledge, 2023). 

Additional facts about Der Nordschleswiger:

• Founded in 1946 as a German-language weekly and later expanded to a daily newspaper for the German minority in Denmark.
• Headquartered in Apenrade (Aabenraa) with local editorial offices in Hadersleben (Haderslev), Sonderburg (Sønderborg), Tondern (Tønder), and Tingleff (Tinglev).
• The online media outlet of the German minority receives partial funding from the Federal Republic of Germany through the organization of the German minority in Denmark, and also benefits from state media funding in Denmark, similar to Danish-language media.
• Der Nordschleswiger employs 26 staff members.