derAchte: When the neighborhood writes the headlines.

Culture, lifestyle, social issues, and business—derAchte puts residents, businesses, and cultural figures in the spotlight and captures the mood of the neighborhood in relatable, human stories. The newspaper has a circulation of 25,000 copies, regularly sells out, and can also be read online at derachte.at. As a best practice example of the Vienna Media Initiative, derAchte shows how local quality journalism can have a lasting impact. With the support of the Vienna Media Initiative, a citizen editorial team was also set up: a format that involves children, young people, and adults in editorial work in a low-threshold manner, accompanied by experienced journalists.

Here, the editorial team introduces itself and its work:

Since its founding in March 2020, the local newspaper derAchte has established itself as a media fixture in Josefstadt. derAchte is a large-format print newspaper with a modern design and content for everyone—exciting even for people who don't live in Josefstadt. The JosefStadtZeitung derAchte puts cultural figures, businesses, and residents in the spotlight.

The topics covering culture, lifestyle, social issues, and business are diverse and colorful. From celebrities such as actors and politicians to innovative businesses and restaurants to traditional crafts and numerous events, you can find everything in the print newspaper – but also online at derachte.at. The current mood and atmosphere are captured in individual stories that stand out for their closeness to the people. With the KOR8 citizen editorial team, derAchte has created a unique project in which children, young people, and adults can engage in editorial work for the first time in a low-threshold environment, accompanied by experienced journalists. Some of the KOR8 editors grew up in Josefstadt, live or work in Vienna's smallest district, and have a keen sense and in-depth knowledge of Josefstadt issues.

There was simply no high-quality local newspaper that was appealing in terms of both appearance and content and that engaged the population on multiple levels.

Even after five years, the feedback from our readers is still phenomenal. We could increase our circulation from 25,000 to 30,000 copies—because we always sell out. Unfortunately, this is not possible for cost reasons.

We finance ourselves primarily through advertisements and paid newsletter entries, but we also offer a subscription via Steady.

Unfortunately, we have not yet been able to establish solid financing—we struggle from issue to issue. Unfortunately, there is a striking gap between recipients and advertisers.

The Vienna Media Initiative has enabled us to set up the KOR8 citizen editorial team at a high level.