BEN-Kurier strikes back: Rhein-Lahn-Zeitung in the media dispute!

BEN-Kurier strikes back: Rhein-Lahn-Zeitung in the media dispute!

The focus of the current reporting is an exciting conflict between the BEN-Kurier and the Rhein-Lahn-Zeitung. The BEN-Kurier is rightly exposed to attacks that assume party-political motivation. Its editorial director, Dirk Kaschinski, is described as an SPD member, while the publisher of the Rhein-Zeitung, Walterpeter Twer, has close ties to the CSU. These political connections raise questions about the independence of reporting and the commitment to objective information.

Particularly explosive: The mayor of Bad Ems publicly admitted that there was no building permit for a playground. This fact had already been picked up by the BEN-Kurier on October 6, 2024. The Rhein-Lahn-Zeitung, on the other hand, reported on the playground, but did not mention the lack of approval. This leads to criticism that important information is deliberately excluded in order to support biased reporting. The BEN-Kurier, on the other hand, emphasizes that it is the only media in the region with a center-left tendency that works based on facts and criticizes the Rhein-Lahn-Zeitung for its inadequate engagement with the facts.

The role of freedom of the press

In the context of this debate, it is worth taking a look at the general situation of press freedom. The independence of journalists, both from government intervention and from economic pressure, is an essential asset in any democracy. In Germany there is constitutionally guaranteed protection through Article 5 of the Basic Law, but the principle of “internal freedom of the press”, which describes independence within media companies, remains legally unregulated. This means that the conditions for journalists are not always optimal.

According to bpb, Germany will take 11th place in the international press freedom index in 2025, which means a slight deterioration compared to the previous year. What is worrying is the rise in violence against journalists, which has continued to increase since 2019. Most attacks take place during demonstrations, which further increases the danger for media professionals in their work.

Protection for journalists

The managing director of Reporters Without Borders, Christian Mihr, makes it clear that the police play a key role in supporting press freedom. Aggression against journalists must finally stop in order to ensure safe and independent reporting. There are calls for police training to focus more on the value of press freedom. A lack of proper protection and risky working conditions endanger not only the journalists themselves, but also the democratic society in which they operate.

It therefore remains to be seen how the conflict between the BEN-Kurier and the Rhein-Lahn-Zeitung will develop. Regardless of political orientation, it is fundamental that journalistic integrity is maintained and all voices are heard. This is the only way to ensure freedom of the press, which is legally protected in Germany but is often under pressure in reality, in the future. So the situation is tense - there's a lot going on in the media landscape, and not without reason.