This page explains what you can expect from Wochenanalyse.de when our reporting involves children or young people, and how we handle concerns about such content. If you believe we have published something that puts a minor at risk, please contact our complaints team at complaints@wochenanalyse.de or our Standards Lead Lea Schreiber directly using the details on /our-team/.
What does this policy cover?
This policy covers all editorial content produced by Wochenanalyse.de that mentions, depicts or otherwise refers to any person under the age of 18. That includes articles, photographs, videos, audio clips, social-media posts, newsletters and any other material we publish. It applies whether the minor is named, pictured or described in a way that could identify them.
We also apply the same principles when we receive tips, reader submissions or press releases that involve minors. Our team will not publish such material without first reviewing it with the additional scrutiny outlined here.
How do we decide what to publish about minors?
Our first consideration is always the best interests, safety and long‑term welfare of the child. We weigh that against the public interest in the story, and we will not identify a minor simply because an adult source has named them or because the information is publicly available.
Specifically, we apply these criteria before any article featuring a minor is approved:
- Does the story genuinely require the minor’s identity to be disclosed? Whenever possible we use first names only, omit surnames and blur faces in images.
- Is the minor involved in a sensitive situation – such as abuse, crime, family breakdown, health issues or immigration proceedings? In those cases we nearly always avoid direct identification unless there is a compelling public-interest reason and the child’s safety is assured.
- Has the minor’s parent or guardian given informed consent where the content is not clearly in the public interest? We actively seek that consent and document it.
- Could publication expose the child to harm, stigma, bullying or unwanted attention now or in the future? We consider this particularly when the minor is from a vulnerable background.
All decisions under this policy are subject to an additional review by our Standards Lead Lea Schreiber, who oversees fact‑checking and safeguarding across the newsroom. She can be reached at factcheck@wochenanalyse.de.
How this works in practice
A concrete example: in early 2025 we reported on a local council’s decision to close a playground in Malmö. During research, a reader submitted a photo that showed several children playing there, including one whose family had previously asked for privacy. Our reporter drafted the story without naming any child and with the faces blurred. The editor flagged the photo for potential identification. Lea Schreiber then reviewed the image and decided that even with blurring, the location and clothing could allow neighbours to identify the child. The image was replaced with a stock photo of a generic playground. The article went ahead with a note explaining that children’s identities were protected. This example shows how the policy is applied step by step before anything reaches publication.
Who is responsible for enforcing this policy?
The Standards Lead Lea Schreiber is primarily responsible for this policy and for conducting the additional review required for any content that features minors. She reports directly to Chefredaktör Peter Weber, who holds overall editorial responsibility for all publication decisions and corrections.
All journalists and editors at Wochenanalyse.de receive training on safeguarding when they join the team, and this policy is reviewed annually. The full editorial team – including Redaktionschef Miriam Schwarz, Politikredaktör Markus Kaiser, Wirtschaftreporter Claudia Winkler, and Kultur- och samhällsredaktör Jan Martin – applies the policy in their daily work. Every item that involves a minor is flagged in our newsroom system and cannot go live without a sign‑off from Lea Schreiber or a designated deputy.
How we handle ownership and funding behind this policy
Wochenanalyse.de is owned and operated by Wochenanalys Media Ltd., a private company registered in Gibraltar (company number C 92009, Malta Business Registry) with its registered office at Office 9, Business Centre, Valletta, 0000. Our funding comes from display advertising, affiliate links, commercial partnerships, sponsored content, newsletter sponsorships and content licensing – full details are on our /ownership-funding/ page. None of these commercial relationships influences our editorial decisions, including those about minors. Our /editorial-policy/ sets out the separation between editorial and commercial functions.
What to do if you have a concern
If you believe we have published content involving a minor that breaches this policy, or if you have a general safeguarding concern, please contact our complaints team at complaints@wochenanalyse.de. Alternatively, you can reach Lea Schreiber directly at factcheck@wochenanalyse.de. We treat every concern seriously and will respond within 48 hours. Where we identify an error or a breach, we will publish a correction promptly in line with our /complaints-procedure/ and /fact-checking-policy/.
In short
Wochenanalyse.de treats the safety and dignity of minors as a non‑negotiable editorial standard. Every piece of content that involves a child is subject to an extra layer of review by our Standards Lead, and we will never publish an identification that could put a young person at risk. If you see something that worries you, let us know – we will act on it.