In a statement, the five-person editorial team explained that the decision was driven by the challenging and ever-changing media landscape. "The demands on sustainable, high-quality journalism, as well as on the financing and further development of specialized media offerings, have fundamentally changed in recent years," the team wrote.
Launched in Bern in 2010 by founders Thomas Künzi and Greg Zwygart, 'Mannschaft' began as a platform focused on gay issues. Over the years, it evolved to cover the entire spectrum of the LGBTI community, becoming a respected source of news and culture. Its reach expanded beyond Switzerland, launching in Germany in 2015 and Austria in 2020.
The closure highlights a wider trend affecting independent and community-focused media across Europe. In a more personal email to its newsletter subscribers, the team elaborated on the human cost of keeping such a publication afloat.
"Anyone who wants to continue a publication like 'Mannschaft' must be prepared to constantly reinvent themselves. That's exactly what we've done for the past 16 years. Today, however, we realize that the energy for another major new beginning is no longer there to the same extent. And because we believe that 'Mannschaft' deserves our full passion, we have consciously decided to end this journey at a time of our own choosing."
The Final Chapter
While the print magazine ends this month, the website, mannschaft.com, will continue to publish content until the end of June. For those wishing to preserve its legacy, the digital archive of all 125 issues will remain accessible online until the end of 2024.
To mark its conclusion, the magazine is offering a "farewell package." For €125, supporters will receive the final printed issue, an exclusive swim bag, and a complete digital archive of the magazine's entire run in PDF format.
The end of 'Mannschaft' is a loss for queer journalism in Europe, serving as a reminder of the vital role that independent media plays in documenting and serving our communities, and the challenges they face in a rapidly shifting digital world.
