There is a lot going on in Berlin's media bubble. More and more deep journalism players will be flocking to the capital in the future. This is a boon for the quality of information in the country.
Key takeaways
1
The Berlin media landscape is being shaken up by new, influential digital players such as Politico and Table Media, which are challenging the established order.
2
Their core strategy is a shift toward “deep journalism,” with a focus on in-depth, well-researched analysis distributed via modern digital formats such as newsletters, podcasts, and videos.
3
This trend is a direct response to the decline in quality of traditional media and the public's urgent need for reliable, fact-based reporting at a time of multiple global crises.
Commentary By:
Michael von Foerster
Michael von Foerster is originally from Middle Franconia, but has been a happy resident of Berlin for decades. He works in the political arena in Berlin and observes the government district and its players at close quarters.
The need for our basic services to provide informative and critical reporting has never been more important than in times of such complex crises as Covid-19, the energy and economic crisis, and the war in Ukraine. The crisis portfolio has been expanded to include Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel, which will trigger a global conflict whose outcome is not yet foreseeable. And in this context, the world's most renowned media outlets have spread highly sensitive false reports. How can this happen?
All these crises highlight the importance of reporting based on intensive research rather than ideology. However, the opposite is happening in the media world, caused by a brain drain within the industry itself. Publishers have downsized their editorial teams and dissolved specialist departments, significantly reducing the quality standards of their own leading media outlets. Editor-in-chief Michael Bröcker recently commented on this, saying, “If we journalists can learn anything from the debates surrounding the Gaza conflict and COVID-19, the war against Ukraine, and the heating law, it is this: we are needed as calm educators, not as agitators and activists.”
Such thoughts are particularly evident in Berlin's media landscape. It is fascinating to see the developments that are being driven forward here – will this lead to rapid change within the so-called “fourth estate”? After all, the last major successful launch of a news magazine was 30 years ago: Fokus!
With “The Pioneer” and, from 2024, “Politico” under the leadership of Axel Springer, the German media heavyweight will in future own two of the most influential political newsletters in Germany, which aim to score points with in-depth journalism and thorough analysis of specific topics.
Politico has just become the leading media outlet for the political establishment in the United States, has made the leap to Brussels, and is now pushing into Germany. In addition, Table Media, under Sebastian Turner, is gaining more and more visibility with its deep journalism, a highly specialized information platform that focuses on individual domains and compiles information relevant to decision-makers. Table Media also wants to play a greater role. This kind of professional pioneering spirit is setting new standards with its digital-only strategy. The aim is to ensure and expand sustainable quality in journalism with new digital formats. The focus is on craftsmanship.
All three companies and concepts are groundbreaking and illustrate how reimagined journalism is gaining momentum in Germany. The changes in the media landscape show that this approach, which focuses on thorough, multifaceted reporting, is gaining in importance. A colorful bouquet of thematic newsletters, podcasts, and video formats creates a depth of reporting that is primarily aimed at decision-makers in Germany. Such efforts are more than necessary to minimize “sensationalist journalism” (Bröcker).
Politico is expected to bring fresh momentum to the market starting in 2024. The introduction of a daily newsletter format under the leadership of Gordon Repinski promises to compete with established players. But competition is known to stimulate business. Politico will most likely establish itself as the left-liberal counterpart to the more conservative Gabor Steingart.
The news of Michael Bröcker's move from “The Pioneer” to “Table Media” once again highlights that “Table Media” is establishing itself as a serious competitor. It will be interesting to see how Bröcker shapes the “Table Media” products and possibly gives them a more political orientation.
Either way, these developments describe the triumph of “deep journalism” (as Turner himself puts it), which focuses on covering topics in greater depth and examining them from different perspectives. In contrast to superficial reporting, which often only presents the facts, deep journalism aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of complex stories and topics. Recently, FAZ and SZ also announced that they will be following the media trend and entering the newsletter business.
It is still unclear who will ultimately win the battle for readers. We can only hope that this development will improve the quality of information and (capital city) journalism and save the quality media. Especially in times of crisis such as these, the reliability of facts, information, and critical reporting at a high journalistic level is essential and more than necessary.
Even after 30 years, Helmut Markwort's slogan “Facts, facts, facts, and think of the readers” remains unchanged.