Moment of Zen

In this moment of Zen will give you information about the website -bildblog- and I will also talk about the fact that people prefer reading yellow press articles and whether that influences our society.

Bildblog describes itself as a "Watchblog for German media". It was found in 2004 and since than it accompanies the german magazine "Bild am Sonntag" with a critical look on their articles. In April Bildblog expanded its domain to a general "Watchblog", that keeps an eye on various publications.

I'm really in favour of the page, because magazines as the "Bild" receive a thorough examination. 10,5 million germans read this magazine on a weekly basis, a magazine that is know for its sensational and dubious headlines which usually fill the entire front page. Not really a serious impression to me, but unfortunately they keep selling their stories with great success.

But it is not only the "Bild"-magazine the press today tends to be shallow and writes pretty much everything regardless of content, truth or honest opinion if it pays off. The majority of magazines today are sucked into the wheel of consumption. It is more important to sell as many copies as possible than to have a clean record. They are not afraid to get their hands dirty. Sensational headlines and shallow stories is what people prefer as a light entertainment.

Bildblog criticizes this way of reporting. It basically tears every vaguely or dishonest written article, mainly by the "Bild" to pieces and proves that their stories are not even build on facts. Important to say so is, that this is not because "Bild" or any other low-content magazine only hires incompetent journalist, it is because they write what people buy.

After all, writing spectacular but far-fetched stories is what pays off today. People should take the press and what they read (consume) more serious. It is important , because even if it is not intended, we are often influenced subconsciously and we relate to what we read. A german saying tells peolpe: "Du bist was du isst!" (You are what you eat). Maybe one could also relate that to journalism and say "You are what you read" which more people should think about and take it to heart.