The Local Germany

Controversial German author takes Random House to court after it axes his book on Islam

Fri, 06 Jul 2018 19:09:47 +0200

Publishing giant Random House has declined to release a new book by controversial German politician-turned-author Thilo Sarrazin over fears it could whip up anti-Muslim hatred.

Five things to do at the Frankfurt Book Fair

Sat, 14 Oct 2017 12:09:37 +0200

The world's largest publishing event, the Frankfurt Book Fair, opens its doors to the public this weekend after hosting industry professionals all week.

Springer makes €306 million online news bet

Tue, 29 Sep 2015 15:46:38 +0200

German publishing giant Axel Springer has bought a majority stake in business news site Business Insider (BI) for $343 million (€306 million), the company said in a statement on Tuesday.

Authors take up fight against Amazon

Fri, 15 Aug 2014 11:16:00 +0200

Writers have taken pen to paper in protest against Amazon's CEO Jeff Bezos and his company's methods and are calling for consumers, publishers and their fellow authors to boycott the online retail giant.

Media giant sells empire to focus efforts online

Thu, 25 Jul 2013 12:59:00 +0200

The publisher of Europe's top-selling newspaper Bild, Germany's Axel Springer, said Thursday it would sell off regional dailies and magazines for €920 million

Publisher buys JK Rowling book for a song

Mon, 22 Jul 2013 11:41:00 +0200

The publisher that bought the German rights to a novel for a song before learning that the author was Harry Potter writer J.K. Rowling said on Sunday it was eyeing a windfall.

'Fifty Shades' whips Bertelsmann into frenzy

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 17:49:00 +0100

German media giant Bertelsmann said Tuesday the best-selling "Fifty Shades" trilogy of S&M books helped whipped overall group sales and profits into shape last year.

Children's books 'still made from rainforests'

Sun, 02 Dec 2012 12:12:00 +0100

German children's books publishers still use paper made from tropical rainforests on “a shocking scale,” despite promising two years ago they would stop, Der Spiegel magazine said in a report to be published on Monday.

Over half of e-book downloads deemed 'illegal'

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 17:27:00 +0200

A new study commissioned by the association against copyright infringement (GVU) has found that Germans stole 14 million e-books last year. But reports from the publishing industry suggest e-books make up very little of the overall market.

Polish cleaner lifts the lid on dirty Germany

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 09:00:00 +0100

A Polish domestic cleaning lady has spilled the dirt on her German employers in a new memoir, "Under German Beds." The book is a best-seller, but as Hannah Cleaver reports, heavy criticism is coming from unlikely places.

Erotic magazine for women hits German newsstands

Fri, 21 May 2010 16:30:00 +0200

A new erotic magazine for women called “Alley Cat” hit German newsstands this week, with publishers targeting young women who have “grown up with sex,” according to the editor.

Axel Springer merges eastern holdings with Swiss group

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:27:00 +0100

German media group Axel Springer announced on Wednesday it would merge its Eastern European operations with those of Switzerland's Ringier to create one of the region's biggest print and digital publishers.

Axel Springer introduces iPhone apps with monthly fees

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:56:00 +0100

In an effort to squeeze more money from its internet operations, German publisher Axel Springer AG is introducing iPhone applications with monthly subscription fees for two newspapers. The Bild app will allow users to “shake” the clothes off the paper’s naked front page girls.

Academic slams Google's library plans

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 12:15:00 +0200

“Garbage” and “hysterical propaganda” was one angry reaction at the world's biggest book fair this year when Internet search service Google defended plans to turn millions of books into electronic literature available online.

Publisher shelves honour killing book in fear of Islamist retaliation

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:54:00 +0200

A Düsseldorf publisher has cancelled print of a murder mystery because of fears that its subject matter – an honour killing – would put employees at risk for Islamist retaliation, according to news magazine Der Spiegel.

New internet 'hybrid mail' service to compete with Deutsche Post

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:36:00 +0200

German publisher Georg von Holtzbrinck has teamed up with private logistics companies to create a 'hybrid mail' service using the internet for quicker delivery at a lower cost, according to weekly news magazine WirtschaftsWoche.

Bavaria bans Zeitungszeugen Nazi newspaper project

Sat, 17 Jan 2009 13:43:00 +0100

Bavaria has banned the Zeitungszeugen magazines which launched a week ago, reproducing original newspapers from the Third Reich.

Wrong number: Munich image printed on Berlin phone books

Thu, 22 May 2008 15:56:00 +0200

In a galling mix-up for the proud residents of the German capital, Berliners will have to use a phone book for the next year that appears to belong the city's southern rival Munich.