Objective Discussion

Auszug

Whenever I read the daily newspapers, I find myself confronted with an ever-growing number of blatant headlines and articles. Terms like "dirty", "polluters" and "high emissions" are bandied about in the heated political debate without a precise context or clear explanation of what these paraphrases are actually referring to. At the end of the day, understanding the various pollutants a combustion engine emits, together with their causes and interrelationships, is no easy task. Nevertheless, anyone wanting to report on them in detail or even judge them should have researched the subject beforehand and at least be able to differentiate between whether e.g. nitrogen oxide, particulate or carbon dioxide emissions are being discussed. Besides making the debate more objective, it would also avoid unsettling consumers. Ultimately, it's not a question of being able to present yourself as a supposedly critical and investigative journalist pouncing on a welcome scapegoat. It's more about the responsibility to use media coverage to provide unbiased information – and helping shape public opinion in the process. …