PrintNews - Dialogue
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| Dr. Rainer Esser, Spokesman of the Management Board of the German weekly newspaper DIE ZEIT |
2005/10/25
Interview with Dr. Rainer Esser, Spokesman of the Management Board of the German weekly newspaper DIE ZEIT
Why does Germany need the “Land of Ideas” initiative?
Ideas are society’s most important commodity. Only those who have ideas can further develop, and only those who further develop can compete in a globalised world. Germany has a long tradition as a country of poets, thinkers and inventers, which needs to be maintained.
Ideas are society’s most important commodity. Only those who have ideas can further develop, and only those who further develop can compete in a globalised world. Germany has a long tradition as a country of poets, thinkers and inventers, which needs to be maintained.
Although there are plenty of good ideas, there is often insufficient public awareness of them. We need more enthusiasm for innovation in Germany. The “Germany - Land of Ideas” initiative pinpoints this creativity and capability in Germany and thus offers an important platform. It shows investors – but also international students and employees – that it’s also worth backing Germany in future.
What do you believe are the three most important German innovations?
The most important innovation for the press was printing. Gutenberg’s printing technology with movable metal letters revolutionised the media: from this point onwards it was possible to print more quickly, cheaper and in large amounts. Without Gutenberg, DIE ZEIT would never have existed.
The Theory of Relativity cannot, of course, be forgotten in Einstein Year. Einstein’s theory of space and time is one of the greatest intellectual achievements of the last century.
As the third most important creative mind I would like to name Otto von Bismarck, to whom we owe the concept of the social welfare system.
How and why is DIE ZEIT getting involved in the “Germany – Land of Ideas” initiative?
As Germany’s leading opinion-forming weekly newspaper, one of DIE ZEIT’s core remits is encouraging debate as well as seizing on and pursuing new ideas. We therefore very much wanted to be part of an initiative that is intended to further Germany.
DIE ZEIT is publicising the initiative. It is becoming involved in material terms by placing advertisements and conducting public relations work throughout the year, in intellectual terms by instigating panel discussions in selected cities and, finally, in personnel terms as DIE ZEIT is represented on the jury panel.
What do you believe are the three most important German innovations?
The most important innovation for the press was printing. Gutenberg’s printing technology with movable metal letters revolutionised the media: from this point onwards it was possible to print more quickly, cheaper and in large amounts. Without Gutenberg, DIE ZEIT would never have existed.
The Theory of Relativity cannot, of course, be forgotten in Einstein Year. Einstein’s theory of space and time is one of the greatest intellectual achievements of the last century.
As the third most important creative mind I would like to name Otto von Bismarck, to whom we owe the concept of the social welfare system.
How and why is DIE ZEIT getting involved in the “Germany – Land of Ideas” initiative?
As Germany’s leading opinion-forming weekly newspaper, one of DIE ZEIT’s core remits is encouraging debate as well as seizing on and pursuing new ideas. We therefore very much wanted to be part of an initiative that is intended to further Germany.
DIE ZEIT is publicising the initiative. It is becoming involved in material terms by placing advertisements and conducting public relations work throughout the year, in intellectual terms by instigating panel discussions in selected cities and, finally, in personnel terms as DIE ZEIT is represented on the jury panel.
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