“Quality journalism has to continue distinguishing from business journalism”, Kurt Wimmer advised his colleagues on the occasion of his farewell and 65th birthday celebration. An event which again clearly proved how much Kurt Wimmer influenced life in the province of Styria with the Kleine Zeitung, when dignitaries of the Church, politics, society and journalism came to honor his retirement.

Born in Linz and after graduating with a History degree, his rapid rise within the Kleine Zeitung began in 1958. Only six years were needed in the local editorial offices and political department before Kurt Wimmer was appointed to assistant editor-in-chief at the side of Fritz Csoklich. A liaison that successfully lasted for three decades and satisfactorily resulted in the “Kleine Zeitung” gaining the position of largest provincial newspaper.

During these years Kurt Wimmer was known as the master of nuances, fought against totalitarian thinking and narrow-mindedness, guarded against hasty commitment, one-sided aggravation and sensational exaggerations and in countless contributions with his characteristic style, set the standard for journalism in this country. In 1994 Kurt Wimmer followed Fritz Csoklich finally to editor-in-chief and ended his professional career in 1997 with retirement.