In his 2023 publication, “Dealing with Dictators,” Mathias Döpfner, the CEO of Axel Springer SE, a prominent German media firm, suggested a remedy for the challenges facing Western democracy. He advocated for nations that uphold the rule of law to collaborate and prioritize trade among themselves, arguing that it is more effective than the misguided belief that engaging in business would moderate the behavior of “self-styled strongman leaders.”
Consequently, it came as a shock when Viktor Orbán, Hungary’s Prime Minister, published a notable opinion piece in Welt am Sonntag last month, just weeks ahead of the most critical elections in his political career. This move sparked considerable discontent among critics, including a former editor at the Springer-owned newspaper.
Axel Springer has been a significant and controversial figure within Germany’s media landscape since the postwar era and is now striving to enhance its presence in the transatlantic market. In 2021, the company expanded its portfolio by acquiring the US-European news outlet Politico, and it is currently in the process of purchasing the UK’s Daily Telegraph for £575 million in an all-cash transaction.
Döpfner frames this expansion as primarily motivated by a political vision focused on protecting Western values. However, some detractors argue that this high-minded objective is often contradicted by the content published in his own media outlets.
Prior to the Orbán incident, Die Welt ignited controversy in 2024 by featuring an op-ed from Elon Musk that encouraged German citizens to support the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), which ultimately led to the resignation of the paper’s opinion editor in protest. A year later, another staff uprising was necessary to prevent an editorial from former AfD co-leader Alexander Gauland from being published.
Döpfner has publicly stated that the AfD’s principles are in direct opposition to Axel Springer’s values, asserting that none of his publications have formally endorsed the far-right party outside of opinion pieces that often express viewpoints contrary to the newspapers’ official stance.
As Europe gradually distances itself from an increasingly unpredictable United States, Axel Springer, the largest news publisher in the EU, appears intent on reversing this trend. Critics contend that the company’s enthusiasm for American ideals, coupled with a lack of interest in European self-sufficiency, leads it to inadvertently promote the political disruptors favored by Silicon Valley.
Matthew Karnitschnig, who previously served as Politico’s chief correspondent in Europe and departed from Axel Springer last year to lead the Brussels-based news platform Euractiv, remarked, “Despite everything we’ve learned about Donald Trump and Musk over the past year, Döpfner and his associates remain ardent supporters. It’s a complete embrace.”
Current and former employees of Springer interviewed for this article did not report any direct interference from Döpfner in editorial decisions. A spokesperson for the company reiterated that “editorial independence is sacrosanct at Axel Springer” and emphasized their belief that financial success is the best way to maintain this independence.
Döpfner, who describes himself as a blend of “carpet-bagger and aesthete,” began his journalism career by writing music reviews and profiles for the esteemed Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung while pursuing his PhD. Former colleagues remember him as someone who charmed executives and displayed ambition beyond mere music criticism, with one colleague likening him to a nobleman without a title.
After managing two struggling regional newspapers, Döpfner climbed the ranks at Springer, eventually leading Welt before becoming the company’s CEO in 2002. He became the main shareholder in 2020 when Friede Springer, the widow of the company’s founder, granted him a 15% stake.
In the early 2010s, Döpfner made several bold strategic moves, including selling off the traditional print publications Berliner Morgenpost and Hamburger Abendblatt while investing in digital classifieds. This strategy proved lucrative and established him as a digital visionary within his organization.
One employee characterized Döpfner’s influence as “guru-like,” noting that there was something captivating about being in his presence. Another observed that male staff members often emulated his distinctive fashion choices, which have evolved from classic three-piece suits to a more modern “Miami Vice” style featuring suit jackets paired with T-shirts and white sneakers.
Döpfner’s reputation endured a sexual misconduct claim in 2021 when Julian Reichelt, the combative editor of Bild, was found to have promoted a female employee to a senior newsroom role while involved in a romantic relationship with her.
Recently, Döpfner’s views on the future of news publishing have taken on a tone of prophetic urgency. Last summer, the company announced ambitious plans to double its valuation within five years through the expansion of media marketing platforms and the exploration of “AI-based journalism.”
Shortly thereafter, Bild had to retract a flawed article that relied heavily on an AI-generated summary of a Swiss documentary. When questioned about the incident, Döpfner remained steadfast, stating in an interview, “No one here has to justify themselves for using artificial intelligence for articles, presentations, speeches, or anything else. Those who choose not to use it are the ones who must defend their decisions.”
Axel Springer now admits the article was problematic and is implementing new procedures to ensure the reliability of AI-assisted journalism.
The company’s track record in successfully navigating the digital news landscape has been inconsistent. While Bild ranks as the most visited German-language news site globally, it consistently scores low in trustworthiness surveys. A three-year initiative to create a “multi-platform universe” featuring an in-house “Bild TV” live channel has also incurred costs in the tens of millions of euros.
