August Zang, (2 August, 1807, 4 March, 1888), a nineteenth century Austrian entrepreneur best known for founding the Viennese daily "Die Presse".
Son of Christophe Boniface Zang, a prominent Vienna surgeon, August Zang became an artillery officer before going to Paris (probably in 1837) to found a famous Viennese Bakery, which opened in 1838 or 1839. In 1848, when censorship was lifted in Austria, he returned to Vienna and founded "Die Presse", a daily newspaper which still exists today (though after several interruptions). The paper was modeled on Émile de Girardin's "La Presse" and introduced many of the same popularizing journalistic techniques, notably a low price (supported by volume and advertising), serials and short, easily understood paragraphs. In 1864, a dispute led two key journalists to leave "the Press" and found "The New Free Presse' (Neue Freie Presse). (The latter is sometimes erroneously given as the name of Zang's own paper.) The original "Die Presse" was soon known as "The Old Press" and in 1867 Zang sold it.
In his remaining years he owned a bank and a mine in Styria, the site of which is still known today as "Zangtal" ("Zang Valley"). His ornate tomb in Vienna is still a tourist attraction.
References
- Wurzbach, C (1891). Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich, enthaltend die Lebensskizzen der denkwürdigen Perosnen, welche seit 1750 in den österreichischen Kronländern geboren wurden oder darin gelebt und gewirkt haben, (162-165)
German wikipedia on "Die Presse"
Article in "Die Presse" on its founding
Another article in "Die Presse" on its founding
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