The role of journalists - a weird German debate

H. L. Mencken is quoted as having said: "The final test of truth is ridicule. Very few dogmas have ever faced it and survived."

We figured this quote was a fitting introduction to the debate on the role of journalists sparked by an act of benign comedy: an episode of German "public" TV satire series "Die Anstalt" (the institution) caught the wrath of two journalists who then went to court and came back with a preliminary injunction forcing the broadcaster to remove the episode from its web site.

The two gentlemen are very well known journalists in Germany and felt their reputation was damaged by the episode of Die Anstalt. It appears that Die Anstalt claimed both were members of various transatlantic organizations and that one of them moonlighted as speech writer for the current German president.

See Heise.de for a concise, yet detailed, write-up on the affair (in German).

Regarding the use of "member", we will simply state that "member" can be interpreted in different ways.

Our interest in this affair is twofold: how much satire is too much in Germany, and what does it say about the role of journalists in this country?

How much satire is too much?
It would seem: very little, if the satirized do not like what they see. Compared to the daily fare on U.S. television and radio, German satire is tame.
Now, if you have been to one of the big carnival parades in cities like Mainz or Cologne, you might beg to differ. Aren't there floats that satirize events or people? Yes, quite a large number.
In the not so humble opinion of the K-Landnews, carnival floats and carnival speeches do not really matter. Carnival is, after all, a time where normal rules are suspended.

At other times of the year, German satire plays a role more like that of a court jester, says the K-Landnews TheEditor. You can get away with things but you are at the mercy of your rulers.

Come on, there is a deeper reason, maybe unintended but there to see if you look at the fact that our concept of freedom of speech has freedom of opinion as its equivalent in the German language.

Note to self: maybe there is a reason why a show we'd call satire or comedy is often called "Kabarett" in German.

This is not to say that satire is impossible in Germany, not at all. Oftentimes, those officials or celebrities at the receiving end of satire are gracious enough or smart enough (or not smart enough) to take it in stride. Even if, for instance, "member" is ambiguous.

Others may pounce on such an ambiguity, go to court, get lucky, and come back with a happy "suck on this!" smile on their faces.

The role of journalists in Germany?
Oh, my, it is the neutral observer and reporter banner flying high, according to the latest out of the main professional body.
Wielding the popular and abused notion from quantum physics that the presence of an observer changes that which is being observed, we'll claim that journalism cannot be completely neutral, and that's fine as long as it is being acknowledged.  You do not watch FoxNews to get glowing praise of socialized health care, and you will not watch MSNBC expecting a full day of praise for the Tea Party.

If you ask about German newspapers, you will be told of where they tend to be on the political spectrum or what role they play in the circus of politics.

Yet, when you ask about the role of the individual journalist, you get the neutral observer dish.

Not a one of the folks having the debate seems to be familiar with an episode of The Moth, in which a famous American editor talks about his formative years as a junior journalist in Oakland, CA.