Press Association: New Rules Weakening Press, Demands Impact Assessment

The German Federal Association of Digital Publishers and Newspaper Editors (BDZV) has called for a binding impact assessment for the press regarding all new legislation. According to the association, political decisions, such as planned changes to the regulation of mini-jobs, continuously threaten the press's economic foundation.

Dr. Jörg Eggers, CEO and Chairman of the BDZV, stated that politicians regularly emphasize the importance of independent journalism for democracy, yet simultaneously enact regulations that gradually erode the economic basis for professional journalism. While individual measures may not be existentially threatening, their cumulative effect is significant.

Particularly critical are the planned changes to mini-jobs. The early morning newspaper delivery relies on flexible employment models. The BDZV warns that increased employer contributions or the effective abolition of mini-jobs would make delivery significantly more expensive or economically impossible in many areas.

The association emphasizes that weakening newspaper delivery endangers the widespread availability of independent journalism, which also affects regional public discourse, press diversity, and thousands of jobs in distribution. The BDZV urges the government to hold an urgent top-level meeting with publishers to create a comprehensive package that protects press freedom by ensuring fair tax conditions, realistic distribution structures, and reduced bureaucracy.