Die Weltwoche (The World Week) is a Swiss weekly magazine based in Zürich. It has a circulation of 90'000 (as of 2004).

Founded 1933 as a weekly newspaper in the mold of French weeklies, it started off somewhat sympathetic to the Nazi government of Germany, but soon joined the other Swiss media in vigorously opposing it. After the war, it remained a fixture of the intellectual environment in Switzerland, publishing articles, columns and interviews on a wide range of topics, including politics, the economy, culture and science, generally from a center-left perspective.

In 2002, flagging sales prompted a shift in format from broadsheet to magazine, and to a center-right, free-market-liberalist editorial line. The relaunch was a great success, making Die Weltwoche one of Switzerland's leading publications. Already distinguishing itself somewhat from the generally center-left Swiss media by its general orientation, the magazine is now especially noted for its interviews with controversial public figures and for the diversity of opinion represented in its pages. For instance, virtually alone among Swiss publications, Die Weltwoche in 2003 and 2004 printed lengthy articles not only arguing against, but also arguing for the 2003 invasion of Iraq or the reelection of George W. Bush to the U.S. presidency.

Its regular columnists of note include the former president of the Social Democratic Party of Switzerland, Peter Bodenmann, as well as Christoph Mörgeli MP, a leading figure of the right wing of the conservative Swiss People's Party.

External link

• Website (in german) (http://www.weltwoche.ch)