Media researcher and journalist Anna von Garmissen talks to host Alexander Matzkeit about the state of journalism in Germany in the podcast “Läuft” produced by epd medien and the Grimme Institute. The discussion is based on the results of three studies, which she considers alarming, and which she summarized in a guest article for epd medien.
Click here to listen to the podcast. (in German)
The Studies
- The open-access study “Journalismus unter Druck” [Journalism under Duress], led by Prof. Dr. Wiebke Loosen assisted by Anna von Garmissen at the HBI
- The non-representative study “Burning (Out) for Journalism” (open access), led by Prof. Dr. Thomas Hanitzsch at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich
- The study “Ausstieg aus dem Journalismus” [Quitting Journalism] (€) by Jana Rick at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich
Key Findings
Anna von Garmissen describes the structural deterioration of working conditions: “The structures are becoming worse for employees. We are dealing with precariousness, increasing fixed-term contracts, and a lack of resources. In other words, there are poorly equipped or understaffed editorial offices and a lot of time pressure, as well as new platforms. All of this is reflected in the mental health of journalists.”
Despite their high level of intrinsic motivation, many are considering leaving the profession. “It’s a job that makes people happy because they see meaning in it, and they’re intrinsically motivated. It’s so sad that so many still feel compelled to leave.”
Stress levels are particularly high at news agencies and private television stations. Jana Rick’s study, “Ausstieg aus dem Journalismus” [Quitting Journalism], also shows that many former journalists find their professional situation outside of journalism to be more stable and financially attractive, as well as more compatible with family life.
Regarding the democratic function of journalism and the self-image of journalists, she refers to the Worlds of Journalism study, which she was part of. “The second most important thing of all was combating disinformation. Over 80 percent of those surveyed considered it very or extremely important in their daily work. This shows the important role that journalists play in enabling society to form well-informed opinions. If that foundation is poor, however, I find that very worrying for society as a whole.”
Are there any options for reform? “Recognizing journalism as a public service would be a great help,” says Anna von Garmissen. She also points to international models of quality-oriented funding. In Luxembourg, for example, press subsidies are based on the number of editorial staff. In Norway, state-supported free subscriptions for teenagers and young adults are widely used.
Regarding artificial intelligence (AI), she emphasizes the ethical risks as well as the potential, provided that efficiency gains from AI are reinvested in journalistic quality.