Page 114 - Communication and Citizenship Journalism and the Public Sphere

BEYOND BALANCED PLURALISM 103

Programming pluralism in the public corporations
The quid pro quo of the independence of the public broadcasters from
the state, which is written into the relevant broadcasting acts and
statutes, is a firm commitment to the German concept of pluralism. Both
the ARD and ZDF are required to assist in the realization of a free
democratic order. The 1987 Inter-Land Treaty forbids the misuse of
violent material, the glorification of war, incitement to racial hatred and
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pornography. This provision, and the specific youth protection rules,
apply to all broadcasters, whether public or private, national or local.
This represents a change from the previous practice when the public-
service broadcasters made their own rules.
The programming responsibilities of the public sector broadcasters
are set out in the various programme guidelines of the ARD
corporations and the ZDF. Apart from the formal requirements for
balanced pluralism, obedience to the general law, objective reporting
and granting airtime to the political parties and the churches,
programme offerings must be as comprehensive and varied as possible.
Not only is the audience to be informed, educated and entertained, but it
must be given

an objective and comprehensive overview of international,
national and Land-wide events in all essential realms of life. The
demand for pluralism is to be especially respected in
information broadcasts and those that serve to form opinion.
Significant political statements and analyses, as well as
information on so far unknown facts and [their] contexts are
essential parts of the programme. The duty to inform also requires
reports on unconstitutional opinions, events or states of affairs. 27

Apart from following similar general principles, ZDF’s programme
guidelines are more overtly political than those of the ARD. They
specify that its programmes are ‘to promote the reunification of
Germany in peace and freedom, help to preserve freedom for Berlin and
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foster efforts aimed at European unification’. This is a slightly
different emphasis from the political remit of NDR, the North German
ARD corporation, where ‘NDR programmes are to…support peace and
German unity as well as to extol [the principle of] social justice.’ 29