Die vierte Gewalt

The number 1 Spiegel bestseller – The first joint book by the two bestselling authors Richard David Precht and Harald Welzer in an expanded edition.

Few books have been as fiercely debated in the German media as the first joint work of bestselling authors Richard David Precht and Harald Welzer. It’s no wonder, as their analysis provides a striking picture of how the media landscape has changed significantly under economic pressure and in competition with online media in recent years: with an increasing tendency towards one-sidedness, simplification, moralizing, outrage, and defamation. As defenders of a differentiated and plural media system, Precht and Welzer ask: How did it come to this in Germany, a country once known for its exemplary quality press and exemplary public broadcasting in an international context? How could and can the media landscape become less free through the "Fourth Estate" itself? And what does the published opinion landscape reflect when it so little aligns with the public?

For a vital democracy, independent reporting is as necessary as nuanced interpretations of political developments. This includes the avoidance of one-sidedness, the inclusion of international perspectives, and the representation of even contradictory developments – aspects that leading media increasingly neglect. Precht and Welzer not only show why many media professionals fall short of the demands of their profession, but also how a sense of responsibility can be regained that allows the "Fourth Estate" to fulfill its duty to democracy once again.

The paperback edition includes new findings on media reporting and the reception of the hardcover edition.