Transmitting information through various media platforms. - Publishers Lament: Politicians Ignore Obligation to Assist Media Industry
In a recent statement, Lehari accused politicians of not taking any action regarding the future of the press, despite their constitutional duty to do so. This feels like neglect to him. As a board member for the Federal Association of Publishers and Booksellers (BDZV), he is attending the Association of Southwest German Publishers (VSZV)'s annual meeting this Wednesday in Stuttgart.
Publishing houses have been requesting support for the rising costs of delivering printed newspapers for quite some time. "Despite previous statements, no action has been taken. This is puzzling," stated Lehari. As a result, the industry is now considering lowering the VAT rate for both printed and digital offers from publishers, as well as promoting digital content to help with the transformation.
In mid-May, Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner mentioned that he could possibly provide funding for newspaper delivery: He would "discuss" how this could be done with "limited funds." Lehari emphasized the importance of the government assisting the publishing industry during its digital media transformation, just like other industries. "For us, it's never been about continuous aid. We need temporary assistance during the transition."
Lehari also expressed frustration with the EU leadership in Brussels. "They're not responding to our concerns. Our messages are being ignored," he said. While there are initiatives to regulate large digital platforms, Lehari believes that the current tools are not sufficient for a thorough implementation, including potentially dismantling these companies like Google.
