We are excited to introduce Progressive Publishing, a brand-new newsletter by ppi Media, designed to provide insights, industry news, and inspiration for publishers, media houses, and corporate publishers. In this inaugural edition, we start with a recap of the Zukunftsforum Medien: Press and Politics 2025, an event hosted by ppi Media on January 14th in Kiel:
"Freedom of the press and freedom of reporting by means of broadcast and film are guaranteed.” This is how Article 5 of the German Basic Law begins. But how is this mandate being put into practice by policymakers? How are the interests of publishers being represented in issues like copyright law or the AI Act? What funding measures could support private media companies? And what formats and strategies can enable media organizations to develop sustainable business models?
These and other questions were at the heart of our new event format, Zukunftsforum Medien, which was held in the historic Kaisersaal of the Hotel Kieler Yacht Club. The event featured a distinguished panel and over 60 participants engaged in dynamic discussions.
- Valdo Lehari Jr., publisher and industry representative in Brussels, called on policymakers in Berlin and Brussels to take action. He criticized the insufficient legal framework and advocated for targeted support measures.
-
Stefan Hilscher
, emphasized the critical role of a free press as a cornerstone of democracy, highlighting its special protection under Article 5 of the Basic Law. He argued that supporting the press is fundamentally about promoting democracy and should be prioritized in state funding decisions. Hilscher also noted the need to address fiscal imbalances, pointing out that platforms like Google and Facebook are not adequately taxed in Germany compared to countries like France and Austria. Additionally, he proposed measures such as media literacy training, the elimination of VAT for media products, and free e-paper subscriptions for state employees in their first year of training.
-
Dirk Schr?dter
, Head of the State Chancellery of Schleswig-Holstein, highlighted the importance of a diverse media landscape and strong local journalism to support democracy and ensure unbiased, high-quality contributions to public opinion across all age groups. He stressed that these goals are increasingly critical given the dominance of major platforms like Google and Facebook, where around 70% of 14- to 29-year-olds source their information, and nearly half of all advertising budgets now flow to these platforms. Schr?dter also pointed out the significant challenges in monetizing high-quality local and regional content, noting that existing business models for such journalism are under immense pressure and may face existential threats without innovation and support.
-
David Koopmann
, Board Member of Bremer Tageszeitungen AG, highlighted the competitive imbalance between public broadcasters and private media companies. Among other things, he pointed out that public broadcasters are also increasingly producing text-based content on digital platforms that compete with local publishers.
- Prof.
Wilhelm Knelangen
from Kiel University provided an academic perspective, questioning the growing trend of politicians using their own communication channels instead of relying on independent media.
The discussion underscored the importance of close collaboration between policymakers, publishers, and academia to tackle the challenges facing the media industry. We extend our heartfelt thanks to
Susan Molzow
, Managing Director of Kieler Nachrichten, for her invaluable support in organizing the panel.
Stay tuned for more insights and inspiration in the next edition of Progressive Publishing.
