Der Schweizerfreund

Title: Der Schweizerfreund

Canton: Bern

Available online: 6 October 1814 - 31 March 1829 (771 issues, 4,789 pages)

Bibliografic information (Helveticat): http://permalink.snl.ch/bib/sz991019022834803976

Rights: public domain

Segmentation level: article level

Description: Marie Stämpfli-Ernst (1784-1836), the widow of the printer Gottlieb Stämpfli (1770-1807), brought out the Schweizer Freund, ein gemeinnütziger Volks- und Landesbote für alle Cantone (Swiss Friend, a public utility people's and country's gazette for all cantons), in her printing house at the beginning of 1814. The Swiss patron saint Niklaus von der Flüe was depicted at the top of the weekly newspaper, along with the motto "Friede sey mit Euch" (Peace be with you). In 1815, the official printing house passed into the hands of the new publisher Ludwig Albrecht Haller (1773-1837) and from 1816 the title of the newspaper was shortened to Schweizerfreund (Swiss Friend). The conservative paper, loyal to the government, was the only government-approved political newspaper in Bern at the time and was subject to strict censorship; political news about Bern was not allowed. After an abrupt end on 31 March 1829, the paper was published from 4 April 1829 under the new title Neue Schweizer Zeitung, initially twice weekly and from September 1830 onwards three times a week. The orientation continued to be loyal to the government and, due to the continuing censorship order, primarily published news from abroad or stories about the European courts. At the beginning of 1831, however, the paper was freed from the censorship regulations and an announcement was made to the readers that the newspaper would become an opinion paper. From then on, the newspaper - soon to be renamed Allgemeine Schweizer Zeitung - was used as a tool in the political debate against the liberals.