Around 400 years ago, a fascinating success story began. The newspaper made a unique career in the Spree metropolis. Hardly any other city in the world printed more newsprint than Berlin. This was not least due to huge publishing houses like Mosse, Scherl and Ullstein. The capital's love affair with printed news has lasted until recent times.
The bpk-Bildarchiv has a large selection of historical photos and documents on the history of Berlin as a newspaper city, a selection of which you can see here.
Newspaper seller at Potsdamer Platz by Philipp KesterBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
Newspaper vendor on Potsdamer Platz, 1906, Philipp Kester
The editorial staff of the "Vossische Zeitung" distributes extra sheets in the Tiergarten on the occasion of the imposition of martial law by Fotograf unbekanntBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
The editorial staff of the "Vossische Zeitung" distributes extra sheets in the Tiergarten on the occasion of the imposition of martial law, August 1914, photographer unknown
Newsprint arrives in Berlin by water and is unloaded here at Humboldthafen. by Willy RömerBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
Newspaper arrives in Berlin by water and lies unloaded at Humboldthafen, 1912, Willy Römer
January 1919 struggles in the Berlin newspaper district by Willy RömerBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
January fights 1919 in the Berlin newspaper district, Willy Römer
Carriage of mail and newspapers in 1919 from Berlin-Johannisthal to Weimar (1919) by Fotograf unbekanntBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
Transport of mail and newspapers in 1919 from Berlin-Johannisthal to Weimar on the occasion of the National Assembly in Weimar, photographer unknown
Traffic strike, eleven-year-old paperboy takes advantage of interrupted newspaper delivery to make a quick sale on roller skates by Willy RömerBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
Traffic strike, an eleven-year-old newspaper boy takes advantage of the interrupted newspaper delivery to make a quick sale on roller skates, 1920, Willy Römer
Berlin newsagent. (1920) by Willy RömerBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
A Berlin newswoman with a carnival hat and an advertising umbrella for a carnival newspaper in front of her newsstand, 1920, Willy Römer
House hallway as a newspaper and bookstore. (1910/1920) by Willy RömerBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
A hallway serves as a newspaper and book shop, around 1920, Willy Römer
A typesetter at the typesetting machine by Heinrich HinzBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
A typesetter at the typesetting machine, around 1922, Heinrich Hinz
Delivery of paper rolls for the newspaper publisher August-Scherl in Berlin (1927) by Friedrich SeidenstückerBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
Delivery of paper rolls for the newspaper publisher August-Scherl in Mauerstraße in Berlin-Mitte, 1927, Friedrich Seidenstücker
In the large pressroom at the Vorwärts-Druckerei, Berlin (1927) by Fotograf unbekanntBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
In the large press room at the Vorwärts printing works, Berlin, 1927, photographer unknown
Newspaper vendor on perch at Alexanderplatz station by Willy RömerBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
Newspaper vendor on perches at Alexanderplatz station, 1927, Willy Römer
Mobile newsstand on the main street in Schöneberg (1928) by Friedrich SeidenstückerBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
Mobile newspaper kiosk on the main street in Berlin-Schöneberg, 1928, Friedrich Seidenstücker
The newspaper drivers leave the Scherl printing and publishing house on Kochstrasse with the latest night edition (1934) by Fotograf unbekanntBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
Newspaper drivers leaving the Scherl printing and publishing house on Kochstrasse with the latest night edition, 1934, photographer unknown
The international press at the newsstand on Potsdamer Platz. (1939) by Ewald GnilkaBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
The international press at the newspaper stand on Potsdamer Platz, 1939, Ewald Gnilka
Fuel saving - streetcar is coupled in front of a truck trailer with paper rolls by Anatol DreyerBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
Saving fuel - a tram is coupled in front of a lorry trailer with rolls of paper, summer 1944, Anatol Dreyer
Sale of the first issue of the "Berliner Zeitung," published as a second daily newspaper (1945) by Fotograf unbekanntBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
Selling the first edition of the daily newspaper "Berliner Zeitung", 21.05.1945, photographer unknown
Newspaper seller with the "night express" in a busy street by Max IttenbachBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
Newspaper vendor with the "Nacht-Expreß" in a busy street, 1949, Max Ittenbach
Newspaper delivery person (1945/1953) by Fotograf unbekanntBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
A newspaper delivery woman at work, around 1948, photographer unknown
Newsstand in front of a mountain of rubble (1950) by Jochen MollBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
Newspaper kiosk in front of a mountain of rubble, January 1950, Jochen Moll
The press on offer at a Berlin newsstand at the beginning of the 1950s (1940/1960) by Fotograf unbekanntBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
The press at a Berlin newspaper kiosk at the beginning of the 1950s, around 1950, photographer unknown
Newspaper seller in the subway (1942/1962) by Herbert FiebigBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
Newspaper vendor in a Berlin underground, around 1952, Herbert Fiebig
Photo reporter during a foundation stone laying ceremony in Stalinallee by Jochen MollBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
Photo reporter during a foundation stone laying ceremony in Stalinallee, 1952, Jochen Moll
A BZ newspaper vendor at the Berlin Sports Palace (1954) by Josef DondererBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
A BZ newspaper vendor in Berlin's Sportpalast, October 1954, Josef Donderer
Street scene (at Potsdamer Platz) with a newspaper kiosk (1958/1961) by Konrad HoffmeisterBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
Street scene at Potsdamer Platz with a newspaper kiosk, 1958-61, Konrad Hoffmeister
Newspaper seller in barn district (1960) by Konrad HoffmeisterBildarchiv der bpk-Bildagentur
A newspaper vendor in Berlin's Scheunenviertel, 1960, Konrad Hoffmeister
Picture selection, bpk picture archive: Christina Stehr
Text, Edition Braus: Anne Scholz
