Internal plurality

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Internal plurality is the creation and guarantee of the constitutionally required diversity of programs and the range of opinions. This term appears in media politics within a program or an overall offer of a broadcaster . It is the opposite of external plurality .

In the case of public broadcasters in the Federal Republic of Germany in particular, internal plurality is a fundamental principle for the organization and programming of the state broadcasters . Corresponding program principles apply within public broadcasting, compliance with which is monitored internally by supervisory bodies made up of members of socially relevant groups, the broadcasting councils. In private broadcasting, too, there is social control through external bodies, the state media authorities and their supervisory bodies.

Emergence

After 1945, a broadcasting landscape based on the British model ( BBC ) was created in Germany after the Allies, who used the radio medium, discussed which model of the media landscape should be introduced in Germany. The Americans started talking about commercial radio, but this failed due to a lack of technical requirements; The French model, a highly centralized and state-oriented radio, was ruled out because of the great concentration of power. Thus the publicly organized radio came to Germany.

In the Germany Treaty of May 5, 1955, the Western Powers transferred full state sovereignty in the field of broadcasting. In 1950, for example, the working group of public broadcasters of the Federal Republic of Germany ( ARD ), the largest public broadcasters association in Europe.

Federal Chancellor Konrad Adenauer (CDU) wanted to set up a privately organized second program, against which an action was brought before the Federal Constitutional Court. The establishment of the planned Deutschland Fernsehen GmbH was declared unconstitutional. It was made clear: “Broadcasting is part of culture. And broadcasting has to remain outside the state, ” said the Karlsruhe judges.

In 1961 a new, independent public law institution was founded. This was called the Second German Television ( ZDF ). Another cornerstone of the broadcasting constitution of the FRG was laid in 1961; The state should not be allowed to influence the program. Even then, the selection of those responsible for the program can be one-sided. However, opinions should be as free from manipulation as possible and the diversity of opinions must be visible within a program. So if not everyone is allowed to broadcast (program pluralism), at least the broadcaster must open up to all those who want to use broadcasting. The control of the broadcasters was given to pluralistic bodies. These are called the ARD broadcasting council , the ZDF television council . The committee consists of representatives of the associations and organizations that play an important role in society. These include churches, political parties, trade unions, employers', welfare and sports associations.

The Broadcasting Council also elects the members of the Board of Directors. This committee monitors the management of the artistic director and reviews his business plan. In addition, the Broadcasting Council elects the director of the establishment on the proposal of the Board of Directors. The director, in turn, runs the broadcaster. As such, he is responsible for the entire program and operation and represents the establishment externally. He draws up the budget and gives an account of the institution's income and expenditure.

literature

  • Dieter Weirich: The Flickering Town Hall: New Media Technologies - Challenges for Local Politics. Kommunal-Verlag, Recklinghausen 1982, p. 17
  • Wolfram Schrag: Media Landscape Germany UVK Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, p. 170 ff.