Kupfermuckn urges people to buy, not just donate

Upper Austrian street newspaper Kupfermuckn is asking the public to buy and read the paper, not just donate, as it marks Austria’s street newspaper day. ORF reports that the campaign aims to highlight social justice and support both the paper’s sellers and its social work.

On Wednesday, editor-in-chief Daniel Egger and his team will read from the latest issue and talk with passers-by at Linz’s Taubenmarkt. The event is part of a nationwide day when several street newspaper editorial teams draw attention to their work.

Egger says sellers receive different reactions depending on the season: some people complain about them in summer, while winter brings more expressions of pity. The editorial team wants people to see the newspaper as something to read, not simply a reason to give money. Buying a copy provides sellers with an income and helps fund the paper and its associated social support.

About 270 people currently sell Kupfermuckn in Upper Austria. They buy copies for half the cover price and keep the difference as earnings. The organisation also helps with matters such as finding housing, dealing with government offices and legal questions.

Kupfermuckn is marking its 30th anniversary this year. It began with a circulation of 3,000 copies and now distributes about 18,000 a month. It is Austria’s second-oldest street newspaper, after Vienna’s Augustin.