Der Verein Arbeiterpresse (1900-1933)

A growing body of research has been interested in the professionalization of journalism for a long time. However, SPD party journalists and their professional association, the Verein Arbeiterpresse (VAP) (Society of Labour Press), have largely been disregarded in this respect. To what extent did SPD party journalists contribute to enhancing the reputation of journalism as a vocation? Which self-conception did they follow?
The author of this book is the first to address these questions. The first part of the book deals with the history of the VAP. Apart from this, its focus is on journalists’ self-conception, their struggles for autonomy and their endeavours to achieve more systematic training of journalists. The book’s analysis provides valuable insights into the development of editorial departments within the social democratic press. For this purpose, publications by the VAP were analysed.
This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of both communication studies and history. Furthermore, it will be a rewarding read for anyone interested in the history of the SPD.