The article AfD-Musk: Journalism must not give a platform to every nonsense by Fabian Peters first appeared on BASIC thinking. You can always stay up to date with our newsletter.
The Springer newspaper World lets tech billionaire Elon Musk advertise for the AfD in a guest article. The Justification: “Democracy” and “journalism” would thrive on freedom of expression. That’s true, but it doesn’t mean that you have to give every nonsense a platform. A comment.
Guest contributions are a delicate matter in journalism. On the one hand, media can benefit from renowned names and outside opinions. On the other hand, authors can misuse such articles for their own purposes and advertise.
Care, objectivity and a social interest are therefore essential tasks in the sense of journalism. Admit: There are tricky cases. But the fact that the Springer newspaper World Letting Elon Musk advertise for the AfD in a guest article is an obvious indictment of journalism and freedom of expression.
AfD-Musk: The richest man in the “world”
Spicy: Elon Musk not only contradicts and refutes himself in his advertising contribution for the AfD. Also the threadbare justification World, There are hardly any contradictions as to why such a post should be published at all. There were rumblings within the editorial team, a senior editor resigned and in the same breath a counter statement was published. But from the beginning.
Musk raves that only the AfD can save Germany. The fact that the plans of the party, which is classified as partly right-wing extremist (withdrawal from NATO and reactivation of Nord Stream 2), stipulate that Germany should become more anti-American and more pro-Russian, seems to have escaped the designated US government advisor Muskau.
The fact that leaving the EU and stopping arms deliveries to Ukraine would not only bring millions of refugees with them, but would also drive Germany, currently the third largest economy in the world, to the brink of ruin: a gift! But further in context. Elon Musk had already advertised for the AfD on X (formerly Twitter).
Springer boss Mathias Döpfner is a friend according to internal documents Musk has been hanging out with the tech billionaire since he took over the platform. Previously he had his former PICTUREEditor-in-chief Julian Reichelt begged before the 2021 federal election: “Please, strengthen the FDP”.
“Please strengthen the” AfD
Journalism and freedom of expression look somehow different. Nevertheless, she argues Worldthat “democracy” and “journalism” thrive on freedom of expression. That may be true in principle, but it depends on the context. Freedom of expression does not mean that you have to give every nonsense a platform.
Not even when it is the richest man in the world who has apparently renounced democracy and all logic. Journalism should stand for diversity of opinion – even if this may sometimes be uncomfortable – but remain independent.
Springer, Döpfner and those World However, they embrace populism and, like real populists à la Musk, crave attention with provocative content. What remains is a medium that offers a platform for the anti-democratic power fantasies and confused thoughts of the richest man, the richest anti-Semite and the richest right-wing populist in the “world”.
As if the owner of one of the world’s most influential news portals didn’t already have enough influence and be able to express his opinion, that’s what he does World as a stirrup holder. Meanwhile, conspiracy theorists on
Notice: This article is a commentary. This is a journalistic form of presentation that explicitly reflects the opinion of the author and not the entire magazine. The comment does not claim to be objective, but is intended to stimulate the formation of opinions and is considered an opinion piece Article 5 protected by the Basic Law.
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The article AfD-Musk: Journalism must not give a platform to every nonsense by Fabian Peters first appeared on BASIC thinking. Follow us too Google News and Flipboard.
As a tech industry expert, I believe that journalism has a responsibility to report on important and relevant issues in a factual and unbiased manner. Giving a platform to individuals like AfD-Musk, who spread misinformation and nonsense, only serves to perpetuate falsehoods and mislead the public.
It is crucial for journalists to critically evaluate the credibility and validity of the sources they feature in their reporting. By amplifying the voices of individuals who promote baseless conspiracy theories or harmful ideologies, journalists risk legitimizing and normalizing dangerous ideas.
In the case of AfD-Musk, it is important for journalists to exercise caution and discernment when deciding whether or not to cover their statements. It is essential to prioritize accuracy and truthfulness in reporting, rather than simply giving a platform to every sensationalist or controversial figure.
Ultimately, journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse and informing citizens. It is imperative that journalists uphold ethical standards and prioritize the dissemination of accurate and reliable information, rather than amplifying the voices of those who seek to deceive or manipulate.
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