Neue Pressegesellschaft expands media presence in Baden-Württemberg

The Neue Pressegesellschaft (NPG), based in Ulm, has significantly expanded its media footprint, bringing nearly thirty daily newspapers under a single corporate umbrella. This expansion includes prominent regional titles such as the Stuttgarter Zeitung, Schwäbisches Tagblatt, Schwarzwälder Bote, and Lausitzer Rundschau.

Critics have characterized the consolidation as creating ‘zombie newspapers,’ noting that while many publications maintain a veneer of independence, they often print nearly identical content. On October 1, 2026, approximately 650,000 subscribers across regions including Stuttgart and Brandenburg received identical headlines.

In response to these structural changes, the joint state political office in Stuttgart, which serves several major outlets including Südwest Presse, Badische Zeitung, and Stuttgarter Nachrichten, has announced new leadership. Axel Habermehl has been appointed as the new head of the office, succeeding Annika Grah. He is joined by deputy Theo Westermann and new correspondent Maximilian Münster, bringing the office's total staff to eight members dedicated to reporting on Baden-Württemberg state politics.