Our Vision
We live in an age where information is ubiquitous and indispensable. News influences our daily lives – it informs us about political decisions, social developments, environmental changes, and much more. However, for many people, most news sources represent an obstacle. Complex language, technical jargon, and complicated sentence structures make it difficult for a part of society to understand this information. People with cognitive impairments, learning difficulties, or limited German language skills are often left behind when it comes to following world events.
Our vision is to break down these barriers. We believe that every person has the right to be informed and to be able to understand that information – regardless of their language skills or cognitive abilities. For this reason, we are committed to presenting complex issues as simply as possible to give everyone the opportunity to stay informed and form their own opinion.
The Challenge: Making Understandable Information Accessible
In today's world, it is a major challenge to present information in a way that is both accurate and easy to understand. News is often characterized by technical language, complicated legal terms, or political jargon. Especially with topics such as economics, politics, or science, the language is often abstract and difficult to penetrate. This leads to a large part of the population having difficulty following the content. People with cognitive impairments or learning difficulties who need clear and simple language face particular challenges. These groups of people often have to accept that they do not understand all the news and thus miss out on important information. The same applies to people whose German language skills are not sufficient to understand the sophisticated language used by many media outlets. We have made it our mission to change this. Our news portal aims to be accessible to all people – regardless of their linguistic or cognitive abilities. This includes simple language, clear structures, and a focus on the essentials.Clear Language: A Key to Greater Understanding
A central element of our vision is the use of clear and simple language. We consciously avoid unnecessarily complicated phrasing and try to make our texts as understandable as possible. However, this does not mean that we simplify the content or leave out important details. Rather, it means that we focus on conveying the core information in a way that is comprehensible to everyone. An example: Instead of writing about "fiscal policy measures to stimulate the economy," we talk about "government measures to strengthen the economy." This approach is not only helpful for people with cognitive impairments but also for those who have not lived in Germany for long and have difficulty with the German language. Simple language also means that we deliberately avoid excessively long and convoluted sentences. Short, concise sentences help to convey the content clearly and directly. We also ensure that foreign words are explained or avoided to ensure that every reader can understand the information.Breaking Down Reading and Comprehension Barriers
Our goal is to eliminate reading and comprehension barriers. We want everyone to have the opportunity to participate in social discourse. To achieve this, news must be prepared in such a way that it is understandable not only to an intellectual elite but also to people who have learning difficulties or who do not yet fully master the German language. An inclusive news portal creates participation. We want people with limited German skills or cognitive impairments to feel that their needs are taken seriously. By deliberately formulating the content of our articles in a simple and accessible way, we contribute to the inclusion and participation of these individuals. Furthermore, we embrace the responsibility of using visual aids. Images, infographics, and videos can help make information easier to understand. Interactive elements, such as explainer videos or audio contributions, also help to make news accessible in a variety of ways.Everyone Has the Right to Information
In our view, everyone has the right to be informed. This is a fundamental right that applies not only to the so-called "informed society" but to everyone. No one should be excluded from important social discussions because they do not understand the information. Participation in information is a cornerstone of democracy. After all, only those who are informed can join the conversation, form an opinion, and participate in public life. The major social challenges of our time – whether it's climate change, social justice, or political upheavals – affect us all. We all have an interest in knowing about and understanding these topics. But for many people, access to this information remains blocked because they do not understand the language of the news. This is not just a linguistic barrier, but also a social hurdle that we want to remove.Understandable News: A Contribution to Integration
Easy-to-understand language and accessible information are important not only for people with cognitive impairments but also for people with a migration background. For them, learning the German language is often a challenge, and complex news articles make this learning process even more difficult. Through our news portal, we want to contribute to integration by conveying news in a way that is also understandable for people whose native language is not German. The ability to stay informed about current events and find one's way in a new society is an important step toward integration. Through clear, understandable news, we offer these people the opportunity to learn about world events and actively participate in their new society. This not only strengthens the sense of belonging but also promotes trust in democratic processes and institutions.What does simple language mean in practice?
Simple language means more than just short sentences and avoiding technical jargon. It requires a conscious decision about how information is conveyed. On our news portal, we pay attention to:- Short sentences: Long, complex sentences are hard to understand. We rely on simple, clear sentence structures.
- Explanations of technical terms: When technical terms are unavoidable, we explain them in a simple way.
- Avoidance of foreign words: We try to avoid foreign words or use them in their simplest form.
- Visual support: Images, diagrams, and videos can help make complex topics more understandable.
- Concentration on the essentials: We do not overload our texts with unnecessary information. The focus is always on clear communication of the core content.