| URL | www.spiegel.de |
|---|---|
| Commercial? | Yes (Premium content available) |
| Type of site | Online Magazine |
| Registration | Optional |
| Available language(s) | German, English |
| Owner | Spiegel Online GmbH |
| Launched | 25 October 1994 |
Spiegel Online (or short: SPON), the online version of German weekly news magazine Der Spiegel, is one the most visited news websites written in the German language.[1]
Contents |
Spiegel Online (abbreviated SPON) is run by Spiegel Online GmbH. Like manager-magazin.de and Quality Channel it is part of SPIEGELnet GmbH, which is a sister company of the publishing house. The editorial offices of Spiegel Online and the print version of Der Spiegel are separated in regards to location, personnel and business. Consequently the authors of Spiegel Online receive different fees. In 2006 Spiegel Online's turnover was 15 million € Euro while the earnings were two million € .[2]
Spiegel Online went online on 25 October 1994[3], thereby being the first online version of an established print magazine, even before Time Magazine. Initially, it was available only to Compuserve users.[4] The domain www.spiegel.de was only inaugurated one year later.
In the beginning the content consisted of hand-picked articles from the print version. But in 1995 already a column named „Scanner“ started presenting content which was only available online. The very next year Spiegel Online's design was overhauled and henceforth it would feature breaking news too.[5] Still Spiegel Online keeps on presenting selected articles from the print version (while he rest of the print publication is premium content and offered as PDF files) and occasionally also articles that authors of the print version contribute exclusively to Spiegel Online.
Eighty people work regularly in Hamburg for Spiegel Online[6] , supported by freelancers and offices in Berlin and other German cities and moreover from abroad. The editorial office also cooperates with a variety of news agencies, like AFP, AP, dpa and Reuters.
From 2000 until 2008 Mathias Müller von Blumencron was the chief editor. On 5 October he became together with Georg Mascolo the new chief editor of the print version, hereby succeeding Stefan Aust. He bequeathed his former function to Rüdiger Ditz and Wolfgang Büchner. Since July Rüdiger Ditz leads the editorial office of Spiegel Online single-handed.
On 21 October 2004, an official English version called "Spiegel International" was introduced.