Why journalism is so valuable

Who of you, dear readers, dear readers, regularly read reports of court proceedings and judgments? Those of you who regularly read the coverage of Africa?

What do you mean: Is the group of people interested in Africa or court reporting, large or small? What do you think: Is the willingness of people to pay for the Africa and court reporting, high or low? To put it differently: there Is a demand of people who are willing to pay for?

there are many possible answers, such as: no. Or: Yes, but it depends on the amount of the fee. Yes, but it depends on the exact topic. Yes, but it depends on the own interest of the Moment an offer is made. Yes, but it depends on whether there are other news sources and what is the cost.

And the quality?

Now that you have missed perhaps the question of whether it is incoming on the quality. In fact, At the Moment of use, it is vital that the quality is right. But you only know after use. We are so ready to buy the cat in the bag, to pay in advance for something we don't know yet for sure?

so, We have, when we speak of journalistic products, neither a safe quality - a clear price-performance of understanding. And this is currently a Problem of society-wide relevance.

Even then, if you are interested in court reports or Africa topics would you like to use such as willingness-to-pay limitations make Accurate subject, as basic as current interest, availability of Alternatives, quality and the amount of the cost – all this determines our choice, our terms, our willingness.

When we had only bundled products, and the subscription principle, we are interested in the. We could not choose. At best, we have the sports or the culture of the Federal government, although paid for, it is simply ignored. Under digital conditions, that we can determine whether and what we use on what channel. The texts to flow to us. Between the News Apps we can easily switch back and forth and in between, we surf.

The use of the provider to determine with your bundled services, the press or the TV-stations with their linear programs, but this is what we define by the users. Always online, always on. We are in a demand market in a provider market.

The user decide and want, because of the all-time - how Allortsverfügbarkeit News the latest News. This is an offer you to turn to. Or you can use what you have sent your "friends", and recommended. Many of the ranges. And about the payment, you can talk with them, but once you want to talk about the performance and this to know. Also in the pre-payment, in the Form of a subscription, expect the users of solid deals: What you deliver to me?

High economic risk

In the market demand, the user can no longer just feed, they determine the terms and conditions of offer. So anyone who is interested in court - or Africa reporting, who would use it and who will pay for it how much?

In the world of digital media it has become difficult, the above-mentioned content and to offer. Because the production is expensive: court negotiations can go on for days. And the Africa reporting requires a high level of investment, of which it is not certain whether you pay the. Because it is uncertain whether anyone who received, and is willing to pay. The economic risk in journalism is so high. If you venture as yet to the Africa reporting?

issues

Out of concern about the possible loss of themes, foundations to promote journalistic projects and media . Because you want so-called democracy-relevant contents, encourages exactly this. However, this approach, as well he may be referring to? Belong to court - or Africa reporting to the democracy-relevant content? We already see the members of the Commission before us to decide. What belongs, what doesn't, in what quality and at what price?

You can see: The promotion of media such as journalism under the theme aspect of it falls short. The approach assumes that there should be some content needed for each Individual as well as society as a whole. For a is clear: Africa is not Switzerland, so no promotion. Others see it differently. And that can change continuously: What are the topics that will be in the future relevant to us?

It can't go in the promotion so alone issues, but the journalism as a social Institution, as a social infrastructure.

The presence of a journalist at a local Council meeting is not alone, because the negotiated issues are relevant, but also institutionally.

for example, a journalist, at a court hearing, it is often the only representative of the Public. The journalist wakes up on the Turn in the Exercise and in the legal system. It acts simply by the fact that she's in. You may, but need not report on the process in which she takes part. But just their presence is democracy relevant, because part of the democratic system is observed and reflected.

in Addition, By reporting the court reached, that the rules and standards that must be adhered to, to the Public caused by a concrete judgment in memory. Courts, like other social institutions, are dependent on this mediation existential. Standards and knowledge of the rules, to be engrossed by the media coverage. Or you may wish to shake of the head, with consequences for political Change. Then it may happen that the legislature is working to change the standards. Thanks to the journalistic work of courts, public authorities are reflected, institutions, and even controlled. Change processes are initiated.

This is a significant achievement. The presence of a journalist at a local Council meeting is not alone, because the negotiated issues are relevant, but also institutionally. From the research we know that The presence or absence of local media has an influence, whether there is more or less corruption in authorities.

journalism allows the participation act

the media as a social intermediary, in the larger context. A journalist from Switzerland in an African country is an Ambassador of a political, economic, cultural, and social values. By reporting the country and its citizens is held up to a mirror. And the reporting allows us to Swiss, over this African Region, its culture and politics against the Backdrop of our attitudes of thinking. The understanding to relevance to our cultural self, for our democracy. For example, if a development of the aid reduction for the benefit of a AHV-increase in a fight should be.

So: journalism offers more than themes, and mediation, namely: replacement, inclusion, reflection, critique. Journalism is guaranteed by its professionalism, diversity and quality of information. Journalism is structured, it refers to social processes. As a result, we are not involved, is part of allows you have. Journalism as an intellectual power puts things in a context and provides classification opportunities. And all of this journalism is doing for us even if we neither court nor Africa reporting ever would use – as long as and provided that we are willing to allow journalism institutionally.

journalism as a wise Precaution,

the society Is, no, I'm so ready for that, journalism as a necessary Institution to recognize and therefore Finance?

My answer to the question is clear: We must be prepared, if we want to remain an open and viable society, and on the other hand, our individual Use through journalistic contributions want. Without a shared Public, in which we weigh our decisions, we would not survive.

The journalism will change under digital conditions (must). Journalism, as an Institution, but there will continue to be, because we need him.

But: We need to take a closer look, what is journalism, what are the conditions needed to be at the same time, as individuals such as us all as a society. And this on a permanent and secure in the expectation that Future comes in a timely manner to the Public. The investment in journalism was, is, and a wise precaution decision.

(editing Tamedia)

Created: 06.02.2019, 19:19 PM