Demokratie

BetterPost - Guter Journalismus auf Social Media

BetterPost ist ein Projekt der Neuen deutschen Medienmacher:innen und setzt sich für eine differenzierte Berichterstattung auf Social Media und gegen Hass in den Kommentarspalten ein.

Über das Projekt

About the Project

Through the choice of words and imagery, journalism shapes how we think about events and conduct debates. On social media, reporting is often simplified and repeatedly reproduces racist stereotypes—particularly on topics such as immigration and displacement. This can intensify hatred in comment sections.

BetterPost monitors the interplay between social media reporting and online hate in comments. The project supports newsrooms in strengthening nuanced reporting, effectively countering hate comments, and initiating structural changes within editorial teams.

Our work aims to further develop journalistic standards, strengthen trust in the media, and contribute to a more diverse, democratic media landscape in the long term.

BetterPost is a project by the Neue deutsche Medienmacher*innen (New German Media Makers) and is part of toneshift—a network against online hate and disinformation.

More than half of the population uses social media to stay informed. However, journalism on social platforms differs significantly from traditional media: clicks, likes, shares, and user retention are the standard currencies. This frequently leads to complex issues being presented in a sensationalized manner. Especially in reporting on migration, displacement, or social diversity, racist stereotypes are often reproduced.

These dynamics are not just a matter of individual posts, but also an expression of structural challenges within newsrooms. To foster nuanced journalism in an immigration society, there is a vital need for raising awareness, changing decision-making processes, and increasing the diversity of perspectives in editorial offices.

This is precisely where BetterPost comes in: the project helps journalists and media outlets identify and dismantle discriminatory patterns in both reporting and editorial structures.

BetterPost aims to support newsrooms in sustainably establishing nuanced reporting and taking effective action against discrimination, online hate, and disinformation. Our goal is a public discourse based on facts, context, and respect—fostering a democratic debate culture in both digital and analog spaces.

To achieve this, BetterPost engages directly with editorial teams, focusing on:

Advising decision-makers on diversity, inclusive newsroom culture, and structural changes.
Practical workshops that address concrete case studies from reporting and comment sections.
Checklists, recommendations, and practical guides to support newsrooms in daily implementation.

The focus is on an approach that does not stop at individual content, but actively examines editorial routines, perspectives, and power dynamics.

How Does the Project Work?

BetterPost combines social media monitoring, awareness-raising, and consulting:

The starting point is a survey on the challenges faced by social media editorial teams, alongside continuous monitoring of posts and comments. Using concrete examples, the project observes the impact of reporting on social platforms and identifies what is needed to effectively counter discrimination, hate, and disinformation.

These insights flow directly into our collaboration with newsrooms:
Through consulting sessions with editors-in-chief and decision-makers, as well as interactive workshops, concrete cases are analyzed and alternative action strategies are developed.

Additionally, BetterPost provides checklists, guidelines, and a digital knowledge platform to support daily implementation in editorial routines.

This creates a continuous process of learning and change aimed at dismantling discriminatory structures and strengthening a resilient democracy.