This thesis examines the working conditions and practices of Eastern German journalists
before and after the reunification of the two post-war German states. It explores the
development of the press in both the German Democratic Republic and the Federal Republic
of Germany and the strengths and weaknesses of both systems.
Building on this work, the thesis then examines the experiences of the journalists after 1989.
It looks at the problems which have arisen in particular for the journalists, and the way in
which these problems have been dealt with. The approach of the journalists to these
problems demonstrates the way in which they view their profession and the responsibility
associated with their work.
The reasons the journalists had for complying with the political instructions they received in
the GDR are very complex and diverse. Some are the result of their upbringing and
experiences, while others are very practical and relate to the conditions in which citizens of
the GDR found themselves. The reasons each journalist had are never exactly the same. The
fact that the journalists did generally comply does not, however, mean that they were
unaffected by the compromises they had to make with their own principles. They were often
troubled by their consciences, but in time, they learned to live with this as the price which
had to be paid for their decision to stay in a career which did afford them some pleasures, and
their consciences became desensitised towards the expectations which were placed upon
them.
When, in 1989, they suddenly found themselves in a situation in which they had tremendous
professional freedom, their consciences were reawakened, and they realised that they had the
opportunity to remain true to some of their personal values in a way which had not been the
case in the GDR. However, they soon learned that this freedom was being compromised by
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the economic demands of the free market. Initially, they reacted strongly against the new
pressures which they experienced, but in time, they grew accustomed to the new situation,
and, as in the GDR, their consciences became a less significant factor in the decisions they
had to make in their professional lives.
The way in which the journalists view the new challenges they face in their work is examined
using interview material. This provides insights into the way in which the journalists regard
the new experiences they have had since 1989, and the way in which they would like to deal
with the new way of working. At the same time, the practical limitations which they face in
their new working conditions are seen, and the similarities and differences between their
work in the GDR and in the new Federal Republic become clear. Despite all the less positive
developments since 1989, none of them wishes to return to the old system.