News and Information Day by Day ...

Friday, January 27, 2012. There are many newspapers in our country. In many in the world today you can get a large diversity of news and opinions - at least in the western world and in many parts of Asia.

Newspapers and media channels …

The principle of “free press” means that many try to write and to earn money by publishing opinion. Also, there is a lot of information published. But this information is usually on a quite superficial level. There are the big media companies which generate “news”, which is then used and printed by all the different local and national papers.

Important features of our media: there is a lot of opinion published. How much of it is sustainable? How much of it is on solid ground? We are stirring emotions. We are using images and we are trying to move people … to attract them by emotional stories, by confrontation, by shocking reports! But are we really moving somewhere? What is the goal of all of this? Have media lost their purpose today?

Another important feature: often there are articles with strong statements, but there are not many facts reported. The content layer of most articles today is rather thin. Have media lost their substance? How can they gain substance? An example: It is said that there are less kids on social aid. Two numbers are reported. But to judge this, we need to know the total number of kids in some age group, we need to look at the development of the numbers … all this is not reported. The article is makes claims, but does not point to or report the sources … that could be much different!

News and Faith?! …

Faith offers alternatives to a superficial way of behaviour. We are invited to the truth of God, to reliability, trustworthiness and solid ground. We are invited to behave in a way which is fully reliable. People can trust us that we will give our best and that we will be open for everyone, but not open for cheating, for fraud and anything which destroys humans.

Sometimes Christian faith and some special kind of conservatism is put into one box. But that has nothing to do with each other. Everyone can be conservative, trying to keep things or to go back to a lost state. But it is important WHAT you want to keep and what you want to gain. Here, faith has special answers.

Christian faith as based on the biblical books will always move towards truth, towards sustainability and appreciation. Love is a key focus of faith, a love which tries to give every human a good life. A love which wants health for everyone and supports everyone to live in peace. We will not always be able to avoid conflicts when we move towards these goals. But love will enable us to fight in a human way, working towards a world which is supporting everyone! (Roland Potthast) ... more texts