Lausitzer Rundschau
Lausitzer Rundschau is a German regional daily newspaper serving Brandenburg, Saxony, and the Lusatian region from its base in Cottbus.
Last updated August 22, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Lausitzer Rundschau, whose name means “Lusatian Review,” is a regional German daily newspaper headquartered in Cottbus, Brandenburg. The paper has published continuously since 1946 and is associated with the communities of Lusatia, including the cities and districts of southeastern Brandenburg and adjoining Saxony. Its editorial coverage focuses on local and regional politics, public administration, business, social affairs, culture, sport, and community life. The title is published in multiple regional editions and is also available through its digital news presence at lr-online.de. The newspaper began in the immediate postwar period. Its first issue appeared on 20 May 1946 in Bautzen, with a cover price of 15 pfennigs. During the German Democratic Republic period, it functioned as a regional newspaper connected to the ruling Socialist Unity Party. Paula Acker served as its first editor-in-chief. The newspaper initially operated from Bautzen, moved its offices to Görlitz in 1952, and then relocated to Cottbus on 5 August 1952. Cottbus has remained the paper’s principal headquarters. In the mid-1950s, the publication supported bilingual education, reflecting the cultural and linguistic issues of the region. Under East German state socialism, the newspaper was subject to the political constraints of the period and acquired the unflattering popular nickname “Lügenrudi,” or “Liar Tom.” After German reunification, its ownership and commercial structure changed substantially. The title became part of the Georg von Holtzbrinck Publishing Group, which also held interests in other German newspapers. By 2012, it was published in tabloid format by LR Medienverlag und Druckerei GmbH, a subsidiary of the Saarbrücker Zeitung Group. The majority shareholding of that group was acquired by Rheinische Post Mediengruppe in September 2012. In April 2018, LR Medienverlag und Druckerei GmbH was sold to Neue Pressegesellschaft of Ulm, which is part of the Ebner Group. Lausitzer Rundschau combines a network of local editions with broader regional reporting. The paper has been described as having 13 editions serving Brandenburg and Saxony. Since 2 March 2006, readers have also received LR-Woche, a free weekly tabloid supplement distributed with the daily newspaper. The title’s print circulation has declined over time, following the wider structural pressures affecting regional newspapers in Germany: reported circulation was approximately 100,000 copies in January 1954, 136,259 copies in the second quarter of 2003, and about 47,000 copies sold by 2024. The newspaper has also developed a strong editorial emphasis on reporting extremist activity in the region, particularly neo-Nazi networks and incidents. Its offices in Lübbenau and Spremberg have been targeted by attacks from right-wing extremists, underscoring the sometimes contentious environment in which the paper operates. In 2000, reporter Simone Wendler became chief reporter and received recognition for an article investigating alleged graft and corruption in Cottbus. Today, Lausitzer Rundschau remains a regional newspaper brand with a print-and-digital model, a local editorial identity, and a market position rooted in Lusatian communities.
History
Lausitzer Rundschau was established in the aftermath of the Second World War, when the German press was being reorganized under the political conditions of the Soviet occupation zone. The newspaper’s first issue appeared on 20 May 1946 in Bautzen. It was sold for 15 pfennigs and initially served as a regional publication connected to the Socialist Unity Party, the ruling party of the German Democratic Republic. Paula Acker was its first editor-in-chief. The paper’s administrative location changed during its early years. In 1952, its offices moved from Bautzen to Görlitz, then the largest town in Upper Lusatia. Later that year, on 5 August, the newspaper moved again to Cottbus. That city became its enduring editorial and publishing center. During the 1950s, the paper supported bilingual education, an issue connected with the cultural and linguistic circumstances of eastern Germany and Lusatia. Its role as a state-aligned newspaper meant that it operated within the restrictive media system of East Germany. The title was sometimes derided by readers as “Lügenrudi,” a nickname referring to distrust of official reporting. After German reunification, Lausitzer Rundschau entered a commercially competitive newspaper environment and its ownership was transferred away from the former state-political structure. It became part of the Georg von Holtzbrinck Publishing Group, which also owned other German newspaper interests, including Saarbrücker Zeitung. By 2012, the newspaper was being published in tabloid format through LR Medienverlag und Druckerei GmbH, a subsidiary of the Saarbrücker Zeitung Group. In September of that year, Rheinische Post Mediengruppe acquired a majority interest in the Saarbrücker Zeitung Group. The publishing company associated with Lausitzer Rundschau was subsequently sold in April 2018 to Neue Pressegesellschaft, an Ulm-based company belonging to the Ebner Group. Editorially, the newspaper developed a broad regional remit. It serves communities in Brandenburg and Saxony through 13 editions, allowing local reporting to sit alongside coverage of regional politics, economics, social affairs, culture, and sport. Since 2 March 2006, the daily newspaper has been accompanied by LR-Woche, a free weekly tabloid distributed with the main paper. The brand has also maintained a digital presence through lr-online.de. The paper has reported extensively on neo-Nazi activity and right-wing extremism in the region. This reporting has carried operational risks: offices in Lübbenau and Spremberg were attacked by right-wing extremists. In 2000, Simone Wendler became chief reporter and received an award for a report examining alleged graft and corruption in Cottbus. Such reporting illustrates the newspaper’s role as a local accountability institution as well as a source of routine regional news. Its circulation history reflects both its historical reach and the long-term contraction of the German regional newspaper market. The paper reportedly circulated 100,000 copies in January 1954 and sold 136,259 copies in the second quarter of 2003. By 2024, reported sales had fallen to roughly 47,000 copies. Despite this decline, Lausitzer Rundschau remains an active regional newspaper brand, operating through a combination of local print editions and digital publishing.
- 2024
Reported circulation falls to approximately 47,000
[1]Reported sales had declined to about 47,000 copies by 2024.
- 2018
Publishing company sold to Neue Pressegesellschaft
[1]LR Medienverlag und Druckerei GmbH was sold to Neue Pressegesellschaft, part of the Ebner Group.
- 2012
Rheinische Post Mediengruppe takes majority share of publishing group
[1]Rheinische Post Mediengruppe acquired a majority share of the Saarbrücker Zeitung Group, then connected to the newspaper’s publishing structure.
- 2006
LR-Woche launched
[1]The free weekly tabloid LR-Woche began distribution with the daily newspaper on 2 March 2006.
- 2003
Reported circulation exceeds 136,000
[1]The paper sold 136,259 copies in the second quarter of 2003, according to the cited reference.
- 2000
Simone Wendler becomes chief reporter
[1]Simone Wendler became chief reporter and was later recognized for reporting on alleged corruption in Cottbus.
- 1954
Reported circulation reaches 100,000
[1]The newspaper’s reported circulation stood at approximately 100,000 copies in January 1954.
- 1952
Offices move to Görlitz
[1]The newspaper moved its offices from Bautzen to Görlitz during the early 1950s.
- 1952
Headquarters established in Cottbus
[1]On 5 August 1952, the paper moved to Cottbus, which became its long-term headquarters.
- 1946
First issue published in Bautzen
[1]Lausitzer Rundschau published its first issue on 20 May 1946 with a cover price of 15 pfennigs.
Products and positioning
A locally rooted regional news provider for Brandenburg, Saxony, and Lusatia, combining multiple print editions with digital reporting and a strong focus on civic, political, social, and community affairs.
Regional daily newspaper · 1946
Lausitzer Rundschau
The core print newspaper, published from Cottbus and distributed through regional editions in Brandenburg and Saxony. It covers local government, regional politics, business, public services, social issues, culture, sport, and community events. The title is produced in tabloid format and is supported by a digital news operation.
Free weekly tabloid supplement · 2006
LR-Woche
A free weekly tabloid distributed with Lausitzer Rundschau since March 2006. It extends the newspaper’s regional offering beyond the daily publication cycle and provides an additional branded format for local and community-oriented content.
Digital news service
lr-online.de
The newspaper’s online publishing platform, carrying digital versions of regional reporting and serving as the brand’s principal web presence. The site supports the newspaper’s continuing print-and-digital model.
Recent events
- 2018
Lausitzer Rundschau changes ownership to Neue Pressegesellschaft[1]
M&A
LR Medienverlag und Druckerei GmbH, the publishing company behind the newspaper, was sold to Ulm-based Neue Pressegesellschaft, part of the Ebner Group.
- 2012
Rheinische Post Mediengruppe acquires majority share of Saarbrücker Zeitung Group[1]
M&A
The majority shareholding of the Saarbrücker Zeitung Group, whose subsidiary published Lausitzer Rundschau at the time, was acquired by Rheinische Post Mediengruppe.
Right-wing extremist attacks target Lausitzer Rundschau offices[1]
Other
The newspaper’s offices in Lübbenau and Spremberg were targeted in attacks attributed to right-wing extremists, in the context of the paper’s reporting on neo-Nazi activity in the region.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/lausitzer-rundschau · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled