Media scholar pens seminal work on journalism and communications
Peter Huth, a renowned journalist and author, is set to release his latest novel, "Aufsteiger", on September 1st. The book offers a scathing critique of Berlin's media industry, drawing on Huth's own experience in the field.
The novel centres around Felix Licht, a journalist aiming to become the editor-in-chief of "Magazin", a fictional media outlet that combines elements of "Spiegel", "Bild", and "Focus". Licht's story and the media backdrop are central to this sharp societal novel.
Huth's characters are not mere caricatures. Sentheim, a character in the novel, is a lawyer who runs a right-wing populist blog. He was previously kicked out of a renowned law firm and now represents disillusioned people, receiving payment from a provincial bearing manufacturer. Some speculate that Huth may have been inspired by media lawyers like Joachim Steinhoefel in creating the characters and plot of "Aufsteiger".
"Aufsteiger" is not a roman Γ clef, but a work of fiction, with any similarities to real-life inspirations purely coincidental. The book is a portrait of society, throwing a stick of dynamite into the supposed media idyll. It depicts middle-aged white men who don't know they're already old white men, and features various topics that have made headlines in recent years, including bourgeois feminists, climate activists, and trans people.
The path to media figures like Julian Reichelt, former editor-in-chief of "Bild" who was fired amid controversy and now runs the portal "Nius", is hinted at in the novel. The novel also features a publishing couple, Christian and Charlotte Berg, who bought "Magazin" and are media newcomers with significant wealth. They are inspired by publisher couple Silke and Holger Friedrich of the "Berliner Zeitung".
The book sometimes feels dated due to being finished two years ago but only now being published. Despite this, it remains a relevant and insightful commentary on the media industry, highlighting excessive ambition, loss of values, self-centeredness, and too much money in the hands of the naive.
Interestingly, Mathias DΓΆpfner, Huth's current employer, does not have a counterpart in the book. "Aufsteiger" is a must-read for anyone interested in the inner workings of the media industry and the price of ambition. If a career stalls, the restaurant is "fully booked" for the person, as depicted in the novel through regular expense-account dinners at the Berlin-Mitte restaurant "Borchardt", which only seats important guests.
In conclusion, "Aufsteiger" is a thought-provoking and engaging novel that offers a fresh perspective on the media industry in Berlin. Peter Huth's writing style, combined with his insider knowledge, makes for a compelling read that is sure to resonate with readers.
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