DW Global Media Forum discusses Ratings versus Quality

Professor Franz-Josef Radermacher, Member of the Club of Rome, challenged participants of the Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum in Bonn by asking “What is the right message, and what is the wrong message?”

He stressed that this question has to be asked in any discussion of the media’s mission to educate. Radermacher, who is a member of the Club of Rome, argued that nobody has a monopoly on truth, not even in the name of freedom of the press.

He discussed the subject “Ratings versus Quality: Media Caught Between Market Pressure and the Mission to Educate” with other experts at the World Conference Center on June 25.

Radermacher, who is Professor of Information Sciences at Ulm University in Germany, said it is obvious that the media have an interest in conveying ideas. But one should not underestimate the “manipulative character” of reporting, which stems from differing perspectives. All media outlets are in a position to spread ideas according to their respective sizes and positions in the market. And “if you have a mission to educate, you must try to be successful. Losers never have influence in the long run.” The key is to find the right balance, Radermacher stressed. “It is not immoral to want to be successful.”

The Deuche Welle Global Media Forum concludes today.