Importance of Ethical Dialogue in Political Discourse
The approach to political communication during the upcoming Bundestag election in 2024/2025 is set to follow a series of guidelines, as outlined in the fairness agreement and the BdKom/DPRG appeal. These guidelines, while not explicitly detailed in the provided search results, are based on general principles that such agreements typically emphasize during election campaigns.
One of the key principles is the equal treatment of all parties and candidates in media coverage, ensuring a level playing field. Transparency in political advertising is another essential aspect, with clear labeling of paid content being a requirement.
Respect for truthfulness and factual accuracy is also crucial to reduce misinformation. Democratic values and the avoidance of hate speech or extremist rhetoric are also emphasized to uphold the integrity of political discourse.
Civil discourse and fair criticism within the bounds of election laws are encouraged, fostering an environment where constructive debate can take place.
The BdKom (Federal Association of Communication Agencies) and DPRG (German Public Relations Association) appeals usually promote ethical standards and fairness in political communication, stressing responsibility and compliance with legal frameworks such as Germany’s election laws.
The fairness agreement, adopted by multiple political parties for the Bundestag election campaign 2024/2025, outlines rules for political communication that parties should follow. Personal denigration, extremist statements, and disinformation are to be avoided, and statements by third parties should be accompanied by appropriate source references.
Digital communication guidelines include the identification of work with AI systems and the abandonment of deepfake technologies. The agreement requires political communicators to uphold a democratic responsibility beyond their loyalty to their party.
Political communication is often handled by career changers and has many overlaps with other fields, leading to actors in this area rarely seeing themselves as a cohesive professional group. The shift to the right in some parts of society is exacerbating these dynamics.
Violations of ethical norms, as per the communication code, can undermine the professional foundations of the profession and damage its reputation. The appeal is based on the communication code of the DPRG, which assigns a democratic responsibility to political communicators.
In the face of technological changes accelerating the speed and reach of information, whether true or false, the willingness to take responsibility, strengthen democracy, and protect public discourse is crucial. Now is the time to talk about the limits and democratic commitments of political communication and drive a cultural shift in the field.
If you need detailed, specific guidelines from these exact documents, it may be necessary to consult official publications or announcements from BdKom, DPRG, or the Federal Returning Officer related to the 2024/2025 Bundestag election campaign, as this specific information does not appear in the search results provided.
