Derk Sauer, the media manager and creator of "Ведомостей," has passed away.
Obituary: Dirk Sauer, Pioneering Dutch Journalist and Media Proprietor, Passes Away
Dirk Sauer, a Dutch journalist and media proprietor who made significant strides in shaping the media landscape in Russia and the Netherlands, has tragically passed away following injuries sustained during a sailing boat accident in Greece last month.
Sauer's career began in 1989 when he moved to Moscow, marking the start of his journey in reshaping the Russian media industry. In 1999, he launched Vedomosti, a major Russian business newspaper in partnership with the Financial Times and The Wall Street Journal. His entrepreneurship didn't stop there, as he also founded the influential English-language newspaper The Moscow Times the same year.
In 2005, Sauer established the publishing house Nieuw Amsterdam in Moscow, which published Russian-language versions of magazines such as Cosmopolitan, Playboy, Esquire, and Harper's Bazaar. He also co-started Het Gesprek, a Dutch TV channel dedicated to interviews and debates.
Sauer's contributions extended beyond Russia. In 2010, he played a key role in acquiring Dutch newspapers NRC Handelsblad and nrc.next, influencing their editorial focus towards background and analysis over breaking news[1]. He served as the chairman of NRC Handelsblad from 2010 to 2015.
Sauer's career involved multiple leadership roles in media companies. In August 2015, he became the vice-president of "Onexim", and in November 2012, he headed the IDFA festival, a notable event in the Dutch media industry. He also served as the president of RBC from November 2012 to 2015.
Sauer was a champion of press freedom. His work with The Moscow Times and Vedomosti provided alternative perspectives in a media landscape often dominated by state-controlled outlets. However, The Moscow Times was eventually recognised as undesirable in Russia[2].
As a columnist, Sauer was a valuable and experienced friend to the readers of the publication. He combined the qualities of an idealist with the insight of an independent thinker, making his writings thought-provoking and insightful.
In the spring of 2022, Sauer returned to the Netherlands. His career spanned across various media industries, including Dutch media, where he made significant contributions. His passing is a great loss to the journalism and media industry, leaving behind a legacy of courage, integrity, and innovation.
[1] Source 1 [2] Source 2
In his dynamic career, Dirk Sauer's entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish various businesses, including Vedomosti, an influential Russian business newspaper, and The Moscow Times, an English-language newspaper in Russia. His ventures extended to the Netherlands as well, where he acquired and influenced the editorial focus of Dutch newspapers like NRC Handelsblad and nrc.next.
