Veszprém Archiepiscopal Library owns the almost entire original series of Veszprémi Hírlap [Veszprém News] issued between 1893–1944. However the newspaper was founded by journalist and editor Dezső Várkonyi but after one and a half years, in December 1894 it was taken over by the Veszprém Egyházmegyei Könyvnyomda [Veszprém diocesan press] and since then the newspaper was the official periodical and educational bulletin of the diocese.
The Veszprém Egyházmegyei Könyvnyomda was established by Károly Hornig (1888–1917) in 1894. His aim was that the Catholic Church take part in shaping the public opinion about political and cultural life by increased participation in book publication. In that era diocesan presses were established in a number of episcopal seats in Transdanubian cities like Győr, Pécs, Székesfehérvár and Szombathely. The Veszprém press also fit in this suit. The print shop first operated in the basement of the now town hall – in the building of the then Foundation Bank of the chapter – and acquired its own building at the then Gizella (now Szabadság) square, in a building standing on the site where Napló’s editorial office was later. In 1922, the printing house extended its profile with bookselling and stationery shop, its most important customer was the Veszprém episcopate as well as its institutes and parishes. The workshop was nationalized in 1949.
A common feature of most of the press managers was that almost all of them were young choir priests working in the cathedral and at the same time they were the prefects of the choir chaplains, i.e. they were vice cantors or in old words succentors. Their later career showed that managing the press was a good practice for all the people who were given important tasks later, in the centre of the episcopate. This work required economic expertise, linguistic accuracy and leadership qualities, at the same time it gave them good chances to build relationships with ecclesiastical and lay people, furthermore it involved an appropriate amount of responsibility.
The Diocesan Bookpress was an important institution of the Veszprém episcopate. By means of its printed products, beyond providing the diocese, it also had a culture forming role and due to its notable economic successes it significantly contributed to the budget of the diocese. During its half century long existence, the Diocesan Bookpress was a dominant cultural enterprise in Veszprém.
The Veszprémi Hírlap [Veszprém News] was one of the important products of the press. Its editors in chief, similarly to the press managers, were selected from the enthusiastic young priests of the episcopal assembly. The paper was first published weekly, later twice a week, and beyond the official announcements it gave place to editorial articles, brief news, fiction columns and church history articles too. In case the paper was more easily accessible it could be an inevitable resource of the early 20th century history of Veszprém city and diocese.