Handelsblatt Boss Calls for More Opinion Diversity in Newsrooms to Save Free Speech
Sebastian Matthes, editor-in-chief of Handelsblatt, has called for more content diversity in newsrooms to foster open debate. He warns of shrinking opinion corridors and the impact of digital platforms on freedom of speech.
Matthes believes that a wider opinion spectrum in newsrooms, including more conservative and economically liberal views, is crucial for an open society. He criticizes the lack of diversity in viewpoints, both in media and society, stressing the need for more arguments and discussions from different sides.
He notes that extreme 'alternative media' do not offer better debates, instead relying on insinuations. Matthes argues that freedom of speech is the core of democracy, but only 40 percent of Germans currently feel they can freely express their opinion, a significant drop from the 1980s.
Matthes describes how digital platforms have become 'algorithmically timed pillories' where statements are swiftly evaluated and condemned. He also criticizes the narrowing of opinion corridors in the media, with certain perspectives largely absent from public broadcasting.
Matthes argues that freedom of speech is not just about state restrictions but also about the shrinking of debate spaces due to conformity pressure and moral outrage. He refers to the case of Jimmy Kimmel, whose show was temporarily suspended after criticizing Donald Trump, illustrating how quickly freedom of speech can be pressured.
Sebastian Matthes, editor-in-chief of Handelsblatt, has emphasized the importance of a diverse opinion spectrum in newsrooms to maintain an open society. He has criticized the impact of digital platforms and conformity pressure on freedom of speech. Matthes invites Handelsblatt readers to provide feedback on the newspaper's coverage and debate spaces.
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