A coalition of media experts is urging the German government to actively implement its commitment to bolstering a diverse and independent media landscape. The “Initiative 18” a group comprised of professionals from the media sector, journalism and academia, is calling for concrete steps to safeguard media pluralism and counter the spread of disinformation.
Manfred Kluge, a co-founder of the initiative, emphasized that the goal is to create equitable conditions for quality media outlets in competition with digital platforms and social networks. He suggested a potential tax incentive for newspaper subscriptions, framing them as a form of education promoting informed opinions and media literacy. “This should be understood as a task for the government” he stated.
The group welcomed the proposal of Culture State Minister Wolfram Weimer for a contribution from digital platforms – a “platform solidarity levy” – to support independent journalism. Kluge noted the limited tax contributions currently made by major digital corporations within Germany, suggesting that a platform levy could provide valuable resources for strengthening journalistic independence.
“Initiative 18” sees trustworthy media and ethical journalism as crucial countermeasures to disinformation, hate speech and online harassment, components deemed essential for a functioning democracy. The organization aims to champion media diversity and independence through advocacy and expert guidance.