A bunch of web-affine journalists and bloggers from Germany are trying to explain to the journalism industry, what its problem is and how it can survive. I took the liberty of a to translate it in English. Because I think that this is not just a German problem. I also have a google docs version of it so if anybody wants to correct my English. Leave a comment and I will invited you to the document.

Cheers

Jens

The Internet manifest

1. The Internet is different.
It creates a different public, different ways of exchange and different cultural techniques. The Media must adjust to the mode of operation to the technological reality, rather then ignore or fight it. It is there duty, to develop the best possible journalism based on the available techniques – that includes new journalistic products and methods.

2. The Internet is a media empire in your pocket.
The web is rearranging the media landscape: it is overcoming the previous boundaries and oligopolies. Publishing and distribution of content do no longer involve high investment costs. Journalism has been deprived of its role as a gatekeeper – fortunately. The journalistic quality remains as last differentiator to a bare publication.

3. The Internet is the society within the Internet.
For the majority within the western world are platforms like Social Networks, Wikipedia or Youtube part of there everyday life. Those platforms gained the same status like the phone and television. If media corporations want to keep existing, they will have to understand the realms there users live in and take on the users forms of communication. This includes the social foundation of communication: listening and responding, also known as dialogue.

4. The freedom of the Internet is inviolable.
The openness of the web is the core value that forms the technological foundation of the digital communicating society and therefore its journalism. This openness cannot be changed for the sake of commercial or political self-interest, often concealed within allegedly public interest. The restriction of access in every form alike endanger the free exchange of information and therefor the right of self-determinant gathering of information.

5. The Internet is the victory of information.
Compelled by insufficient technical capabilities, the world’s information was organized by institutions like media corps research institutes or public institutions. Now everyone sets up his or her personal news filter, while search engines tap into amounts of information of an unacquainted quantity. The single individual is informed to a degree that has not been seen before.

6. The Internet changes, improves journalism.
The web allows journalism to perform its society-forming purpose and a new way. The concept of information as a steadily changing process; losing the unchangeability of print is a benefit. The one that wants to keep existing in this information based world need idealism, new journalistic ideas and embracing the emerging possibilities.

7. The net demands networking.
Links are connections. We connect via links. The ones that do not use them, exclude themselves form the societal discourse. That is also true for the online presence of the old media.

8. Links mean profit, commentary is adornment.
Search engines and aggregators expedite quality journalism: they enhance find-ability of outstanding content and are therefor an inherent part of the new, connected public. Citations, links and references enable the culture of collaborative societal discourse in the fist place. This is also and especially true for doing so without financial or any other arrangements with the originator of the content.

9. The web is a new space for political discourse.
Democracy is based on participation and freedom of information. The transfer of political discussions from the traditional media channels to the web and the opening of the discussion for the public to participate is the new task for journalism.

10. The new name of freedom of the press is freedom of expression.
The German constitution (ger: Grundgesetz) article 5 states no protective right for any occupational group or any traditional business model but the the right of free expression. The web tears down the walls separating amateurs and professionals. Ergo, the privilege of freedom of the press must apply for everybody, who can contribute to the fulfillment of the purpose of journalism. The qualitative difference does not lie in the funding of the creator of content but in its abilities.

11. More is more – too much information is impossible.
Once it was the church that choose power over the information of the individual and so warned of the information flooding, when the print was invented. On the other side pamphlet writer, annalists and journalists proved that more information results in more freedom. And this is true for the individual as well as for society. That has not yet changed.

12. Tradition is not a business model.
It is possible to monetize journalistic content in the Web. Even today their are many examples. But adjustment of existing business models to the advertisement heavy web are necessary. Nobody should try to detract from the inevitable change by trying to conserve the status quo. Journalism need the open competition for the best concept of funding in the web. And it need the courage to invest in multiple implementations.

13. In the web copy right civil duty.
Copy right is a cornerstone of the order of information within the web. Also in the Internet the right of the creator to decide about distribution of his content, the ways and extent applies. Thereby, copy right must not be abused to safeguard superseded supply mechanisms or to avoid new distribution and licensing concepts. In ownership lies obligation.

14. The Internet uses many currencies.
Advertisement funded content trades information for attention to advertising message. Time of readers, listeners and viewers has a price. This principal was always the fundamental way of funding in journalism. Sustainable and different ways must be explored to fund journalism

15. What enters the web never leaves .
In the Internet frees journalism of prior boundaries. Online, texts, sound and images do not need to be volatile. Keeping everything online creates an archive of contemporary history. Journalism must respect the change in information, the change in its interpretation and so admit and transparently correct mistakes.

16. Quality stays the most important characteristic
The Internet unmasks low-labor, off-the-shelf products. Credibility, excellence and recognizability will win a audience over. The expectations of users have risen. The journalism must comply to them while not neglecting its often formulated principals.

17. Everybody for everyone.
The web is a infrastructures for societal exchange that transcends the mass media of the 20th century. In case of doubt, the “generation wikipedia” is able rate sources, research the origin of news, verify and asses them, alone or as part of the group. Journalist exercising the pride of place by disrespecting the users media competences will not be considered reasonable. Rightly so. The Internet allows to directly communicate with those previously called readers, listeners and viewers, to use there knowledge. Not know-all journalist is needed but the one that communicates and investigates.

Internet, 07.09.2009
Markus Beckedahl http://www.netzpolitik.org/
Mercedes Bunz http://www.mercedes-bunz.de/
Julius Endert http://www.blinkenlichten.com/
Johnny Haeusler http://www.spreeblick.com
Thomas Knüwer http://blog.handelsblatt.com/indiskretion/
Sascha Lobo http://www.saschalobo.com/
Robin Meyer-Lucht http://www.berlin-institute.de/
Wolfgang Michal http://www.autoren-reporter.de/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23&Itemid=66
Stefan Niggemeier http://www.stefan-niggemeier.de
Kathrin Passig http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathrin_Passig
Janko Röttgers http://www.lowpass.cc/
Peter Schink http://www.peter-schink.de/
Mario Sixtus http://www.elektrischer-reporter.de/
Peter Stawowy http://www.xing.com/profile/Peter_Stawowy
Fiete Stegers http://www.netzjournalismus.de/

translated by Jens Kaufmann http://www.jens-kaufmann.net/blog/

This text is under Creative Commons (CC-BY)