Rise of the Zombie Papers: Infecting Germany’s Local and Regional Public Media Ecosystem

Germany’s public broadcasters, along with local newspapers, have consistently ranked among the top three most trusted news sources in Germany. Yet growing criticism of mandatory fees and recent revelations about broadcasters’ misuse funds put into question health information infrastructure. In fact, a perfect storm appears to be brewing: precarious working conditions, exacerbated by cutbacks wake Covid-19 emergence so-called zombie papers. These papers, published without staff, reporters, or newsrooms, threaten complicate audiences’ perceptions credibility trust. This study explores emerging deserts examining rise newspapers two states, one Western Eastern part country. Analyses existing literature through lens institutional political economy interviews key informants show that Germany, despite its strong federalized system, is following US footsteps creating journalist-free zones. A network hard-to-follow corporate collaborations endangering foundations post-war media system: pluralism diversity.