The biggest surprise is that it took so long for this to be written...

It’s been called The Internet Manifesto: 17 Declarations on the future of journalism in the age of the internet written by15 German journalists and bloggers.

It doesn't hold back, for example Declaration 6 asserts: “The Internet changes improves journalism“– the word struck through is the authors‘not mine. I doubt their assertion. News on the web is faster, yes, but the web also improves journalism?  Doubtful, for me,even though I acknowledge the power of the digital society.

 

But perhaps the most contentious, or certainly interesting, is no. 13. Copyright becomes a civic duty on the Internet“, stating: “Copyright is a cornerstone of information organization on the Internet. Originators’ rights to decide on the type and scope of dissemination of their contents are also valid on the net. At the same time, copyright may not be abused as a lever to safeguard obsolete supply mechanisms and shut out new distribution models or license schemes. Ownership entails obligations.“

 

If I understand their points properly, my intepretation is that it seems to suggest it’s right that people can decide on how their content is distributed but then delivers the counter punch: access to newspaper and publishing content should be free, in other words, free of license schemes. But like I said, it is my interpretation. I wonder who will tell that to Mr Murdoch?

 

Whatever you may think, it’s a thoughtful piece of work. The only surprise is that no-one authored such a Manifesto before.