Januar 2026: Media Forward Fund für Sachsen-Anhalt-Projekt

·23 min·2 clips

Detektor FM was the only winner among nearly 80 applicants for a major media fund, securing funding for a new regional podcast.

This episode of Detektor FM Destilliert serves as an internal look at the podcast network's plans for 2026. The hosts, Claudius (part of management) and an unnamed colleague, begin with light banter about roles before announcing their major project: securing funding from the Media Forward Fund for a Sachsen-Anhalt-focused podcast and newsletter. They describe the Media Forward Fund as a consortium of foundations aiming for greater impact in journalism, particularly in eastern Germany. The application process was extensive, requiring deep self-reflection and business analysis, and took over six months of intense work. Out of nearly 80 applications, Detektor FM was the sole winner, providing two years of funding and planning security. The hosts emphasize that eastern German states like Sachsen-Anhalt suffer from poor media coverage, with some areas having no printed newspapers, which they term 'steppes' or 'tundras.' They note that over 50% of their team has East German backgrounds, giving them particular competence for this regional project. The discussion turns to broader media industry challenges in Germany, where existing structures hinder innovation. They admit a past mistake: avoiding user logins from 2009-2011 to maintain openness, which prevented direct audience contact and community building. This project will help rectify that by focusing on newsletters and decentralized platforms. The Sachsen-Anhalt project is timely due to the 2026 state election, where the AfD might gain an absolute majority, and aims to provide sustained, in-depth coverage rather than temporary reporting. They plan to hire staff with expertise in newsletters and Sachsen-Anhalt knowledge, with job postings coming soon. The hosts express optimism, viewing this as aligning with Detektor FM's core values of independent journalism. They also mention that their win has spurred competition, with other publishers in Sachsen-Anhalt now developing similar formats. The episode concludes with thanks to the Media Forward Fund and their team, and a teaser for a video podcast launching in February.

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