The federal states want to make media content more accessible for people with disabilities. The federal states are therefore already striving for an initial amendment to the new state media treaty signed in April, which lays down rules for broadcasting and online platforms in Germany. It comes into force when the votes in the state parliaments have taken place. It takes unanimity for the State Treaty to come into force.

Don’t miss any news! With our daily newsletter you will receive all the news from heise online from the past 24 hours every morning.

Barrier-free offers The Rhineland-Palatinate State Media Secretary Heike Raab (SPD) told the German Press Agency: “A working group headed by Bremen has already developed a further development of the State Media Treaty. In it we take up very important issues such as accessibility can be practically implemented in the media. ”

For the first time, there should be a definition for barrier-free media offers. Reporting obligations are to be further specified. Raab emphasized to the dpa: “There should continue to be regulations on the accessibility of announcements. We are also increasingly seeing this in the pandemic: Sign language interpreters are already everywhere at the important press conferences. This is an innovation that we are very committed to ”

At the latest meeting of the broadcasting commission of the federal states, the first proposals of the working group were discussed. Now the whole thing is going to a public hearing. Raab announced: “Then we want to quickly work out a draft state treaty and present it to the Prime Minister’s Conference next year.”

Not always integrated Those affected repeatedly describe that important press conferences at federal and state level are not consistently accompanied by sign language interpreters. At the same time, they draw attention to the fact that TV broadcasters do not always take over barrier-free offers from the federal government.

Media policy is a state matter, but Rhineland-Palatinate traditionally coordinates broadcasting affairs. In Mainz, among other things, the commission for the determination of the financial needs of the broadcasting corporations (KEF) sits, which gives recommendations for the broadcasting fee. The Second German Television (ZDF) has its seat there – with its Mainzelmännchen. The State Media Treaty is intended to replace the State Broadcasting Treaty in force since 1991, which regulates the rules for broadcasting in D