‘I Am in Favor of Community-Oriented Journalism’

He already had a curiously concrete interest in journalism as a child, says Sohiel Partoshoar. Today, he is the community management officer at Hessischer Rundfunk and believes that this work is becoming increasingly important for journalism, even beyond social media.

Werksgelände: What does a community management officer actually do?

Sohiel Partoshoar: In fact, I hardly ever do community management, even though I really enjoy it. My colleague Tom Klein and I mainly deal with it on a strategic level: How can we create a safe, civil framework for discourse? Why do discussions always fall apart? What do the ongoing crises of our time trigger in our users – and how do we respond to them with our services? What legal means do we have to combat hate speech, disinformation and misinformation? And why was there another shitstorm recently? We advise editorial offices and divisions of HR, exchange ideas with lawyers, academics and media professionals beyond ARD, provide training, organize conferences, develop (future) models and keep a close eye on the world.

What experience or talents should you have for the job?

It helps that I am familiar with editorial processes, their strengths and weaknesses, and that I already had a strangely concrete interest in journalism as a child. The fact that I have plenty of life experience outside the media bubble and can contribute different perspectives is another factor. And I would like to see a robust civil society in a free and democratic constitutional order, which is why I am passionate about a public service broadcaster that finally lives up to its standards. In short: you have to be a bit of a hard worker.

What appeals to you about your job?

I get paid for learning – of course only if I share my findings! Because of the fact that it’s strategic coordinating work, I work a lot with people across hierarchical levels. And above all, the topics we deal with no longer ‘just’ concern social media, but the self-image of public service broadcasting as a whole. In times of polycrises, news fatigue and questionable developments on social media platforms, more and more observers see us as having the task of structuring and moderating discourse. I see this as an opportunity, a rare ray of hope in the midst of the otherwise gloomy future prospects for public service broadcasting. That’s why, in my Lecture at the H-BRS, I argue in favor of community-oriented journalism.

More and more observers see us as having the task of structuring and moderating discourse.

- Sohiel Partoshoar

What are the biggest challenges in your job?

The feedback from outside is remarkably positive. However, our journalistic and publishing ideas are not compatible with a corporate culture that is still characterized by hierarchy. It takes a lot of strength, patience and trust. Nevertheless, we are heading in the right direction. Nevertheless, the concern remains that we are not taking our future into our own hands at the crucial moment but are letting other players decide our fate.

What has been your biggest flop on the job so far and what have you learned from it?

I could talk about countless flops from the editorial traineeship that I had previously completed. I hadn’t adapted enough, asked too many questions and was therefore unattractive to editors. Luckily, some of my colleagues picked me back up and helped me get back on track. It really is true: what unsettles some people, others see as an opportunity.

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