die  Berichterstattung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/bəˈʁɪçtɐˌʃtatʊŋ/

📰 What does "die Berichterstattung" mean?

Die Berichterstattung refers to the process or the result of informing about events, facts, or people, usually through media such as newspapers, television, radio, or online platforms. It's about the collection, preparation, and dissemination of news and information.

Essentially, it's the way something is reported on. It encompasses both the act of reporting and the entirety of reports on a specific topic. It translates closely to 'reporting' or 'coverage' in English.

• Example: Die Berichterstattung über die Wahl war sehr umfangreich. (The coverage of the election was very extensive.)

⚠️ It's a feminine noun, so it's always die Berichterstattung.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: die Berichterstattung

The noun "Berichterstattung" is feminine. It's mostly used in the singular because it often functions as a collective or abstract noun. The plural "Berichterstattungen" is rare but can be used to refer to different, distinct reporting processes or bodies of coverage.

Example Sentences 📝

1. Die Berichterstattung der lokalen Zeitung war sehr einseitig. (The local newspaper's reporting was very biased.)
2. Wir verfolgten die Berichterstattung über das Ereignis im Fernsehen. (We followed the coverage of the event on TV.)
3. Der Umfang der Berichterstattung hing vom Interesse der Öffentlichkeit ab. (The extent of the coverage depended on public interest.)
4. Man kritisierte die Art der Berichterstattung scharf. (The manner of reporting was sharply criticized.)
5. Es gab verschiedene Berichterstattungen in internationalen Medien über den Vorfall. (There were various coverages/reports in international media about the incident. - Plural, rare)

🗣️ How to use "Berichterstattung"?

"Berichterstattung" is mainly used in the context of media, journalism, and public information. It describes the process or the result of reporting.

• Typical contexts: Nachrichten (news), Pressekonferenzen (press conferences), Reportagen (reports/features), analyses, public debates.
• Common adjectives: objektive (objective), subjektive (subjective), einseitige (one-sided), ausgewogene (balanced), umfassende (comprehensive), detaillierte (detailed), kritische (critical), laufende (ongoing) Berichterstattung.
• Verbs: die Berichterstattung verfolgen (to follow), kritisieren (to criticize), analysieren (to analyze), beeinflussen (to influence), steuern (to control).

Distinction from similar words:

• Der Bericht: A single product of reporting (e.g., a newspaper article, a TV segment). Die Berichterstattung is the overarching process or the sum of reports.
• Die Reportage: A specific type of report, often more vivid and subjective than pure news. Part of Berichterstattung.
• Die Meldung: A short piece of news or information, often part of broader Berichterstattung.

People often talk about the "Art und Weise der Berichterstattung" (the manner/way of reporting) to evaluate its quality, style, or perspective.

💡 Mnemonics for Berichterstattung

1. Article Mnemonic (die): Many German nouns ending in "-ung" are feminine (die Heizung, die Meinung, die Übung). Remember: Die Meldung (the message/report) is part of der Berichterstattung. The "-ung" ending strongly suggests "die".

2. Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine a reporter who has to "state" (erstatten) a "report" (Bericht). The whole process and result is the Berichterstattung. Think of the "coverage" as the state of reporting.

🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms

Similar but Different Terms:

• Der Kommentar: Expression of opinion, often following reporting. (Commentary)
• Die Analyse: Deeper examination of a topic, goes beyond mere reporting. (Analysis)
• Die Propaganda: Biased, often manipulative influence, not neutral reporting. (Propaganda)

😂 A Little Joke

German: Fragt der Chefredakteur den neuen Volontär: "Haben Sie Erfahrung mit investigativer Berichterstattung?"
Antwortet der Volontär: "Ja, ich habe gestern erfolgreich herausgefunden, wer den letzten Keks aus der Dose geklaut hat!"

English Translation: The editor-in-chief asks the new trainee: "Do you have experience with investigative reporting (investigativer Berichterstattung)?"
The trainee replies: "Yes, yesterday I successfully found out who stole the last cookie from the jar!"

✒️ Poem about Berichterstattung

German:
Die Welt dreht sich, es passiert so viel,
Die Kamera läuft, das ist das Spiel.
Von nah und fern, bei Tag und Nacht,
Die Berichterstattung wird gemacht.

Mal schnell, mal tief, mal laut, mal leis,
Sie bringt die Nachricht, heiß und weiß.
Ein Spiegel dessen, was geschieht,
Ob Freud, ob Leid, ob Hass, ob Lied.

English Translation:
The world turns, so much takes place,
The camera runs, that is the case.
From near and far, by day and night,
The reporting (die Berichterstattung) is brought to light.

Sometimes fast, sometimes deep, loud or low,
It brings the news, for all to know.
A mirror of what comes to be,
Whether joy or sorrow, hate or glee.

❓ Little Riddle

German:
Ich trage Nachrichten in die Welt hinaus,
Bin mal im Fernsehen, mal im Zeitungshaus.
Ich erzähle, was war und was gerade ist,
Oft objektiv, manchmal mit List.
Ich habe den Artikel "die", das ist bekannt.
Wie werde ich im Deutschen genannt?

English Translation:
I carry news out into the world,
Sometimes on TV, sometimes in print unfurled.
I tell what was and what is now true,
Often objective, sometimes with a skewed view.
I have the article "die", that's well-known.
What am I called in German, can it be shown?

Solution: Die Berichterstattung

🧩 Word Composition and Trivia

Word Composition (Wortzusammensetzung):

The word "Berichterstattung" is a compound noun or derivation:

• Bericht: From "berichten" (to report, to narrate).
• Erstattung: From "erstatten" (in the sense of Bericht erstatten = to give/submit a report). The prefix "er-" often indicates a result or completion.
• -ung: Suffix used to form feminine nouns, often denoting a process or result.

So, it literally means: The process or result of report-submitting/giving.

Trivia:

The quality and independence of Berichterstattung is considered a crucial pillar of a functioning democracy (often referred to as the "Fourth Estate" - Vierte Gewalt).