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Der Spiegel editors sacked over pay-wall dispute

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By John Glenday, Reporter

April 11, 2013 | 2 min read

Leading German news weekly Der Spiegel has moved to sack two editors over their opposition to the introduction of paid for online content.

The Hamburg based magazine sacked joint editors Georg Mascolo and Mathias Muller von Blumencron after they refused to implement the strategy devised by the publisher.

This saw the pair tasked with merging the firms print and digital operations but personal differences between the two saw Mascolo take the helm of the magazine and Blumencron head up the website.

This separation of duties drew the consolidation plans to a shuddering halt and fuelled an ongoing turf war from as far back as February 2008.

A recent disputeover the implementation of an online pay-wall is thought to have been the last straw.

A majority 50.5% stake in Spiegel is owned by a co-operative of the company’s journalists with the remainder divided between the family of its founder, Rudolf Augstein and Gruner & Jahr, publisher of Stern.

Readership of Spiegal is in long term decline, with a present circulation of 933k – a 10% decline on a year ago. Readership of the website has been rising however.

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