Bundestag Passes Deutsche Welle Law

Germany's parliament amended the Deutsche Welle (DW) law on Thursday, ensuring the international broadcaster greater financial security. DW's Internet offerings, DW-WORLD.de, were singled out in the amendment as one of the three equally important platforms of the broadcaster's service, along with television and radio. In the future, DW will be expected to communicate "German and other perspectives on important issues" rather than being limited to conveying information and images of Germany as was previously the case. DW Director-General Erik Betterman stressed that the changes to the law would give DW greater journalistic and business opportunities and strengthen the foreign broadcaster's independence from the state.