Praxis
Inspiring Kick-off for the New b° Local Cohort
For two days, 23 curious, open-minded, critical, and committed media professionals gathered in Berlin for the b° local kick-off workshop to dive deep into solutions journalism.
Five publishing houses, 10 newspaper titles, eight teams—and above all, 23 dedicated media professionals—have joined forces with the Bonn Institute to rethink journalism.
The new cohort of the b° local innovation program met in Berlin for a two-day kick-off workshop focused on solutions journalism. In addition to editorial input, the workshop provided space for participants to get to know each other, share challenges, and define concrete next steps for the months ahead.
A key highlight was the intensive exchange among peers. Many participants found that newsrooms are facing similar challenges—and that this shared reality presents a valuable opportunity. The teams developed measurable goals for their collaboration over the next ten months, discussed them in plenary sessions, and explored new perspectives for local journalism.
The following media organizations are part of the program:
Hanauer Anzeiger
Schwetzinger Zeitung
Offenbach Post
Lausitzer Rundschau
Märkische Oderzeitung
Mitteldeutsche Zeitung
Volksstimme
Thüringer Allgemeine Zeitung
Mannheimer Morgen
Rheintaler
Werdenberger & Obertoggenburger
The focus on solutions-oriented reporting, diverse perspectives, and audience dialogue formats resonated strongly. The aim: to move beyond problem-centered journalism that stops at describing crises, and toward constructive approaches that offer real value to readers. As one participant put it: “My joy in journalism has grown even more.”
With strong motivation and a shared sense of purpose, the program now enters its next phase—aiming to make local journalism both relevant and economically sustainable.
Strong partners across Germany, Austria and Switzerland
b° local innovation program is being run in collaboration with strong partners from the media industry:
Association of German Local Newspapers and Local Media (Verband Deutscher Lokalzeitungen und Lokalmedien, VDL) – represents around 70 members and advocates for the promotion and support of local journalism, particularly in rural areas.
Swiss Media Publishers Association (Verlegerverband Schweizer Medien, VSM) – the industry association of private media companies in German-speaking Switzerland, representing around 300 newspapers and magazines.
Bonn Institute – a center of excellence for innovative and constructive journalism in the DACH region, covering Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
These partnerships provide the foundation for aligning local journalism more closely with audience needs, fostering exchange between newsrooms and exploring new approaches that go beyond traditional reporting.