Sicherung publizistischer Vielfalt in der Plattformökonomie. Möglichkeiten und Grenzen des Arbeitsrechts als ergänzender Regulierungsansatz

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Cover of Volume: M&K Medien & Kommunikationswissenschaft Volume 73 (2025), Issue 2
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M&K Medien & Kommunikationswissenschaft

Volume 73 (2025), Issue 2

Authors:
Publisher
Nomos, Baden-Baden
Copyright Year
2025
ISSN-Online
2942-3317
ISSN-Print
1615-634X

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Open Access Full access

Volume 73 (2025), Issue 2

Sicherung publizistischer Vielfalt in der Plattformökonomie. Möglichkeiten und Grenzen des Arbeitsrechts als ergänzender Regulierungsansatz

Authors:
ISSN-Print
1615-634X
ISSN-Online
2942-3317
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Using Germany as a case study, this article discusses which labor law instruments could help ensure and maintain media diversity with regard to journalistic creators on online platforms, within the context of a platformized public sphere. This discussion is grounded in current case law and Directive (EU) 2024/2831 on improving working conditions in platform work. The article explores the complementary regulatory potential of labor law alongside the established European framework of platform regulation. It examines typical power asymmetries on platforms and investigates whether labor law instruments can be designed to counteract segregation among creators and protect their journalistic interests against platform operators. Our analysis shows that journalistic creators may benefit from legal developments in their general capacity as platform workers. However, they are currently afforded little effective protection in their specific journalistic role. Based on this analysis, legal policy should aim to extend protections toward ensuring diversity within the regulations governing algorithmic management.

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