Germany – (E6) Content monitoring instruments
Continuous content monitoring is regularly provided and published by independent organisations, scholars, and media organisations.
Authors: Christine Horz, Barbara Thomass
Germany – (E2) Media ownership concentration regional level
On a regional level ownership concentration is remaining remarkably high. In most German regions one newspaper is dominant; the public service broadcaster still dominates the local radio market.
Germany – (F10) Misinformation and digital platforms (alias social media)
In most leading German news media, there exist specially trained experts to monitor misinformation. In only a few cases are algorithm-based tools used, as traditional means of fact-checking are considered more valuable.
Germany – (F7) Procedures on news selection and news processing
Internal debate on news production is practised more than once every day and is part of journalistic routines.
Germany – (F6) Company rules against external influence
Leading news media in Germany receive their income from diverse sources. There is no single large advertiser.
Germany – (F5) Company rules against internal influence on newsroom / editorial staff
Newsroom journalists enjoy independence on editorial decisions. The management, sales department, and newsrooms are separated most of the time. Although there was one severe case of political influence in public service media, this was resolved by a constitutional court proceeding.
Germany – (F4) Internal rules for practice of newsroom democracy
Newsroom democracy is established by editorial statutes, which are common in German newsrooms. But journalists have limited influence on hiring decisions for editors-in-chief.
Germany – (F3) Diversity of news sources
The variety of sources in news production is restricted in the sense that non-elite discourse and diversity of the social and cultural heterogeneity of society are reflected less. Some news agencies dominate the market. Investigation is mostly conducted in special units and is limited to large flagship media outlets.
Germany – (F2) Patterns of news media use (consumption of news)
The German citizen is well supplied with news from different sources.
Germany – (F1) Geographic distribution of news media availability
There is a multiplicity of news sources widely available all over the country.
