In two previous blog entries I addressed the topic of NGOs. In the first entry I reproduced and linked to Sandra Flounders’ article on the Workers.org website, addressing NGOs in Russia. The second entry addressed the methods and techniques some NGOs, spin doctors and nekamas apply when doing their “non-governmental”, “non-profit” and “non-commercial” work.
Just recently I came across a German website, actually a German on-line newspaper, which bares the name “NGO-Online” and suggests to be a major news outlet for NGOs in Germany. I’d like to bring this website to your attention, for those among you speaking German this on-line newspaper might be an interesting read.
The owners of “NGO-Online” suggest to bring an entirely new journalistic concept to the reader.
“NGO-Online” suggests that today’s general journalistic concept plays a major role, like never before, in the formation of political wills and the penetration of the media by “power-politics”.
Simultaneously it claims to observe an increasing agreement of the media, regarding the transported and promoted opinions, with press agencies, with the interests of business partners, customers and political parties.
In “NGO-Online”’s opinion today’s journalism rarely has “the search for truth” in mind. According to them, today’s average journalism is nothing but the transportation, directly or indirectly, of the statements of “powerful participants” with little interest in communicating critical thoughts and ideas. Common Journalism produces, according to their view, nothing but folkloric accessories to “power politics”.
The Internet newspaper “NGO Online” claims to introduce a new journalism to the German media landscape. This new journalism claims to have the following characteristics:
Moderating a fastidious contest of facts and arguments of persons and institutions with the most diverse political interests.
Clarifying current proposed reforms, principle positions, interests, persons and institutions.
Being interested in the “structure problems” behind the daily events.
Reporting on most diverse events and political activities in Germany and the world.
Providing information regarding the “mainstream” as well as the “edge of the center” news.
Addressing problems and interests of “the strong” as well as those of “the weak”.
Considering argumentations neglected in most other media.
Providing on-line documents, background papers and original texts essentially and argumentatively held by most different sources.
Taking readers to the “political will formation”, by providing a “database” of argumentations and aspects.
Of course, “NGO-Online” is looking for submissions, contributions and, last but not least, for donations. What else could they do ?
10 Kommentare
21 03 07 um 14:06
Heribert, that blog is so predictable. Just check the section on Gesundheit. Evil biotechnology, etc.
I think the problem with German blogging is that, in general, it’s so awfully anti-modern. It’s weird — Germany is one of the most modern countries in the world, and yet it indulges in so many anti-modern hobbies (”organic” agriculture, anti-nuclear politics [fortunately, this is beginning to change], even a green party). In North America, I’m considered a lefty, but in Germany, I’m called a rightwinger… Until I start advocating Turkish EU membership…;)
RM
21 03 07 um 14:38
RM: Heribert, that blog is so predictable.
It’s not a blog, it’s an Internet newspaper for NGO’s. It’s lobbying, like any other NGO outlet.
RM: I think the problem with German blogging is that, in general, it’s so awfully anti-modern.
This assumption is wrong. It depends on which German is blogging, there are “anti-modern” Germans and “modern” Germans on blogosphere. Generalisations don’t lead us anywhere.
RM: In North America, I’m considered a lefty, but in Germany, I’m called a rightwinger…
There’s a well known difference in formulation in Germany and the US. In German I am called a “Liberaler”, which I take for being a compliment. I don’t think that calling someone a l”iberal” in the US is intended to be a compliment.
Anyway, you do recall that I am a German, don’t you ? I consider myself a “German Blogger”, although I use the language of Shakespeare, not Goethe’s, to communicate on blogosphere. Where exactly am I being anti-modern ?
21 03 07 um 14:42
Heribert, apoligies for the broad-brush:) I think Germans in general just rub me the wrong way (disclosure: I am German)…
21 03 07 um 14:43
Nix fuer ungut daher. Du nix anti-modern, aber Du sicher wissen was ich tun meinen…;)
21 03 07 um 14:49
RM: Nix fuer ungut daher. Du nix anti-modern, aber Du sicher wissen was ich tun meinen…;)
Na sischer datt ! Watt machste dann in Käskoppland ? (Tiefe Verbeugung in Richtung Norden …. ik praat ook Nederlands ! …. Ich bin eben ein Stinkmoffe, en ik ben erg blij een “pro-Nederland” - Duitser te zein.
21 03 07 um 14:50
By the way, your English is darn good. It’s another reason why Germans annoy me so much — met too many in my line of work who pride themselves of their English, use English words wherever possible (particularly in marketing, absolutely awful), but when they finally are forced to communicate in English, it’s a mess. So, tipping my hat to your blog, so far. I really loved that NGO ‘whacking’ entry, though I think that the diversion on that weird mystic was … well, a diversion…
Weiter so!
RM
21 03 07 um 14:54
Ich nix in kaeskoppland, dammich! bin ostfriese. konnt mal platt, aber alles uebern deister, von wegen all dem auslandsaufenthaltigungen. nu aber wieder angelsaeschisch, suenners schnallt hier ja keen aas was.
The beauty of German — one can write it in such a way that any native German gets it, but a foreigner who never visited the country and lived there for a while would understand half of it.
21 03 07 um 15:01
RM: Ich nix in kaeskoppland, dammich!
Sech mol, warum secht denn deine IP du seiest im Schtäddle mit de fülle Grachten ?
RM: The beauty of German …
Jau, dat timmt
21 03 07 um 15:03
ha — dien eipi rieder sein doesig. icke ist in kopfdorf von gross-ostland.;)
21 03 07 um 15:11
RM: ha — dien eipi rieder sein doesig. icke ist in kopfdorf von gross-ostland.;)
Nu sech blos ! Daddn jo mol a Ding ! Borcht sich de Spitznoom fum Iwan unne EiPi funne Grachteschwimmern. Dat is jo elephantös !
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