- Primarily disrupting its prime-time broadcast, ARD hands over control to the youths
Under the hashtag #YOUNGPEOPLEPROTEST, ARD temporarily switched its prime-time programming at 8:15 PM on a Sunday to address youth concerns, opportunities, and challenges. A 15-minute special aired on Das Erste, hosted by entertainer Carolin Kebekus, where young individuals stepped into roles such as hosts for "Breakfast Show," "Sports Report," "News," and "Quiz Show," even undertaking the duties of "Crime Scene Investigators." The special garnered the attention of 5.97 million viewers, accounting for a significant 24.6% audience share.
Brief segues featured discussions on important themes, including advocating for children's rights to be incorporated into the nation's constitution, as well as addressing topics like online bullying, violence towards young individuals, poverty, and insufficient sports facilities.
The "Crime Scene Investigators" episode had a delay
As the "News" anchor, Noemi shared: "According to recent research, our generation is more pessimistic about the future than ever before. Primary concerns for youth include conflicts in Europe, social unrest, and environmental crisis. These continuous issues are causing amplified levels of psychological stress." The "Crime Scene Investigators" episode was moved to 8:30 PM, due to the special broadcast.
The head of WDR programming, Jörg Schönborn, explained the unusual action: "It is society's responsibility to bring children's rights to the forefront. We aim to support this objective through our resources and various programs in public broadcasting."
Kebekus, who gave birth in January, shared thoughts with Deutsche Presse-Agentur: "Children's rights in Germany are often overlooked. Approximately a quarter of children and young adults face threats from poverty or social marginalization. I hope for a bold political declaration that addressing this societal issue becomes a top priority. Regrettably, the children's advocacy movement is too modest."
"Let's permanently enshrine children's rights in the constitution"
The Children's Sexual Abuse Commissioner, Kerstin Claus, applauded the action: "ARD switching the regular Sunday evening TV show for youth matters is fantastic. It captured the attention of millions of prime-time viewers, focusing on children's rights. We should all be aware of our duty to safeguard children, respect their individual thoughts, and integrate them into decision-making processes."
Claus added: "As mandated by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, we must now finally embed children's rights in the constitution. Only when the consideration of a child's well-being, protection, promotion, and participation rights are incorporated in the constitution can children and young adults be better shielded from all forms of violence, especially sexual violence."
The media widely covered ARD's decision to switch its prime-time programming, highlighting the importance of youth issues and the discussion on incorporating children's rights into the constitution. The media also reported on the successful special broadcast, which attracted a large audience and sparked conversation about societal issues facing young individuals.
