Creation myths in German media & the authority of the press

German media have been beat up recently by claims of bias, bad reporting, and - for public radio and TV - waste of funds. 

Being called "liars' press" was perceived as particularly hurtful because the Nazis used this epithet with abundance. Despite the insult, this historical context made it easy to defend today's media against the allegation.

The other defense was, of course, the internet, and how it has put the traditional media under huge pressure, causing some publications to fold.

The implication of this argument is if the citizens were just willing to pay for a good product, we'd provide it.

But they cannot be that blunt, in part because public radio and TV are raking in some 8 billion euros a year in fees and fail to make good use of the money. Imagine PBS showing the Super Bowl plus reality shows galore on the public dime.

In the debate, some self critical voices were heard but the statements to this effect invariably included cushioning words like maybe or possibly. And they disappeared after a day anyway.

Some of the nostalgia is very understandable when you look at the years after the end of World War II when the newly democratic members of the press endured hardship in their role of the "fourth estate". For example, a retired reporter told the story of how they had to bring a bag of coal to the newsroom to have some heating in the winter and still worked in their overcoats all day. The fact that many reporters had learned their craft in the 1930s and early 40s fell by the wayside.

The myth of how everybody was equal when the old currency Reichsmark was ditched in favor of the new Deutschmark and everybody was given 40 Deutschmarks in cash to start over. The fact that money in the bank was converted to Deutschmark somehow was never mentioned after the 1960s or so. 

The new radio and television stations to this day claim their organization and goals as modeled to forever avoid the famous Nazi radio propaganda. In the fray, nobody noticed that the announcer who hysterically blared the victory soundtrack of the weekly movie theater newsreel was the same who now touted democratic progress and economic resurgence.

Having overcome physical hardship - and in many cases rather undemocratic training and previous penmanship - German media built a good reputation, brought in a new generation of news people, and felt good about themselves.

Consensus worked. Newly minted journalistic pariah and ex reporter of Frankfurter Allgemeine, Udo Ulfkotte, for example, was present in Iraq during the Iraq-Iran war and witnessed Germans and Americans support Saddam's chemical attacks and took photos. Upon return to Germany, he wrote in a book, he was told to deliver the photos to the German chemical industry association - and complied.

Then came the internet. German media began to freak out and have not stopped since.

While we cannot fix their fears, we can suggest they read this blog entry by journalism professor Jay Rosen on the internet and the authority of the press.

While written with the American media in mind, the concept does fit the German media landscape. too.