waz

WAZ, short for Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, is a major German regional daily newspaper published in the Ruhr region. It is part of the Funke Mediengruppe and is headquartered in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia. The title emerged in the postwar period as the German press landscape reorganized and expanded through acquisitions of local titles in the Ruhr area. WAZ publishes daily editions in several Ruhr municipalities and provides regional news, sports, culture, and classifieds, with a focus on local reporting for cities such as Essen, Dortmund, Duisburg, Bochum, and Gelsenkirchen. The newspaper maintains a significant online presence at waz.de, offering digital journalism, portals, and online services alongside print editions.

In the early 2010s, the WAZ Group faced financial difficulties and entered a restructuring process. In 2013–2014, assets of the WAZ Group were integrated into Funke Mediengruppe, and the WAZ newspaper brand continued under the Funke umbrella as part of its regional portfolio. Today, WAZ remains a prominent regional title in Germany, serving readers in the Rhine-Ruhr area with local news, regional business coverage, and community-focused reporting.

The acronym WAZ may also refer to other organizations or entities in different sectors, but in media contexts it is most commonly associated with Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung.