History

The German Press Agency was founded in the city of Goslar in 1949, three months after the proclamation of the Basic Law constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany and four days after the first parliamentary elections. It was a difficult start for dpa since the agency lacked almost everything, including money, communications equipment, paper, and office space. There was even a shortage of chairs in the central newsroom in Hamburg.

Today dpa is one of the world's leading international news agencies, relying entirely on its own resources to supply news around the globe. There are more than 2,500 customers in 100 countries for dpa's services, including 75 national news agencies.

Throughout its history, the German Press Agency has prevailed against strong competition, protected neither by national borders nor a language barrier. It needed to win over customers but also gain partners willing to campaign jointly for the mutual interests of the news industry. dpa has done so on various levels, for example by taking an active role in the European Alliance of Agencies, a key forum for the exchange of experience and know-how within the news gathering and distribution sector.