New journalistic guidelines: 20 Minuten founds Academy for internal training
20 Minuten’s comprehensive editorial guidelines were presented during a media breakfast. They outline how 20 Minuten is addressing the societal challenges of news consumption and announce the launch of the «20 Minuten Academy» to strengthen internal training and professional development. Editor-in-Chief Désirée Pomper subsequently sat down for a video interview with m&k Werbewoche.ch.
20 Minuten has for the first time comprehensive journalistic guidelines and makes them accessible to the general public. On the one hand, the guidelines explain the journalistic principles that 20 Minuten follows, such as how it deals with sources, research, the involvement of the 20 Minuten community and how it handles advertising and artificial intelligence. At the same time, they also show how 20 Minuten deals with the three major social challenges relating to news consumption: content overflow and news fatigue, misinformation and disinformation, and filter bubbles.
Because information is now available around the clock via countless channels, people are constantly overwhelmed, which is referred to as "content overflow". In addition, many people have developed news fatigue due to the pandemic and the ongoing wars. At the same time, the problem of misinformation and disinformation is more relevant than ever because everyone can create content and reach an audience of millions in a matter of seconds with sometimes unverified content. In addition, audiences today often operate in filter bubbles in which their own opinions are confirmed rather than questioned.
In this context, 20 Minuten wants to emphasize the growing importance of journalism and the traditional media. Because "independently and correctly informed citizens are the prerequisite for a functioning direct democracy", according to a press release.
Neutral, compact journalism with entertainment value
Against this backdrop, 20 Minuten has expanded its traditional news sections, strengthened its reporting from the Federal Parliament and introduced a fact-checking task force. Reporters are also increasingly reporting from abroad. The Lifestyle and Entertainment teams provide inspiring and entertaining elements to counteract news fatigue.
This offering, which is "politically neutral and independent" and represents the "entire spectrum of opinion in a balanced way", is intended to reach the whole of society. The aim is to enable readers to form their own opinions and participate in social discourse.
"We are delighted that we are now making our journalistic guidelines transparently accessible to the general public. Fake news, filter bubbles and preachy words have no place at 20 Minuten. Instead, there is verified news, different opinions and balanced, ideology-free reporting. And of course: lots of entertainment and inspiration," says 20-MinutesEditor-in-chief Désirée Pomper quoted.
Internal training and further education program established
The internal training program "20 Minuten Academy" has also been set up to further strengthen the skills of the editorial team and the quality of reporting. The more than 25 regular courses are mostly short and compact and cover important topics for the editorial team, from fact-checking and titling to an introduction to photography or creating infographics.
The courses are all led by employees who have in-depth expertise in the respective area. Participation is open to all interested employees from 20 minutes. Interns attend all parts of the course in order to complete their practical training with a solid theoretical foundation. The 20 Minuten Academy is led by Sofie Erhardt, Head of Visual & People Lead, and Gaudenz Looser, Deputy Editor-in-Chief.
