I knew it for years, I expected it, I had somehow rationalized it so as not to panic, I’m not saying I was surprised. But be that as it may, I was saddened to hear that Berlin’s Tageszeitung, the happy, stubborn and irreverent taz, is ending its daily print edition (but not the weekend one, too).

Of course, we can see the glass as half full, be encouraged by the fact that taz digital subscriptions are doing well and the newspaper’s editors remain on the ramparts. But we can also see the glass as half empty, mourn the loss, after all, it was the first newspaper of nationwide circulation in Germany to cancel its print edition, and others will probably follow. Either way, something is missing from this glass…

A center of creativity and diversity

I’m glad I got to work with taz in better times for print, not that we were tying the dogs to the sausages, but there was constant communication, ideas from both sides, open minds about reporting, especially what happens by chance. I remember a cloudy morning in the center of Athens, taking notes for the international art exhibition documenta 14. At the booth of the Pakistani artist Rashid Arain I meet Mrs. Anna, a kind-hearted pensioner who lives on 300 euros a month. This is art though. “My wealth is my friends,” she says. Reportage is reserved, academic art can wait.

Taz was and still is strong in storytelling. One of the most beautiful stories we published in those years, which is also part of the modern trend of “constructive journalism”, was the adventure of the young Julien from the Congo, who pulled the plug on everything until he was granted asylum in Greece, learned letters in the unspoiled Konitsa and went to the TEI of Electrical Engineering in Piraeus. first and foremost. Well done to the kid and thanks again, if he happens to read these lines, to the then mayor of Konitsa, the immovable Andreas Papaspyrou, who helped so much with the report.

Something like the old Freepress was the taz of the time. Loud, intrusive, open to every different point of view, but not to prejudice and racism. On a day when journalists were on strike in Greece, the “leftist” taz had no problem hosting the “rightist” Giorgos Kyrtsos, he again had no problem talking about the plight of the industry, expressing respect for journalists (“of course I’ve fired some too…”) and we generally had a good time that day.

New era, new ideas…

You may say: Why the analysis of the past? Can’t we do the same reporting with new journalism and expressive media, on websites and social media? Of course we can. To think about it a bit… Let’s say that today the journalists are on strike. Five second intro on camera. Cut. Ten seconds the usual course at the Academy with natural sound. Cut. Ten second coffees in Valaoritou. Cut. Another ten second restaurants in Kaisariani. Cut. The video is ready. Or does it pass for… brain rot?

The decision is yours dear reader, dear user. The paper gave space to description and emotion, to the writer’s fluency and to the reader’s reflection. This space is running out. Print devotees complain that “the new kids don’t read newspapers.” Soon they will say that “the new kids don’t watch TV”. The Financial Times has already warned us that in Great Britain traditional channels are being pushed to the margins (“UK broadcasters fear being pushed to the margins”). New codes of creation, communication, protest await us. The journey will be exciting. But it won’t be for everyone.