An American friend recently asked me: Why do you read Bild-Zeitung? Isn`t it a low-standard tabloid with topless girls on front page?
Well, as you might have guessed, the page No. 1 girls are not the reason why I sometimes read it - and the Bild-Boys unfortunately did not last ;-)
Also, it is not my only source of information. But Bild makes the news! It is the most quoted newspaper in Germany. No Saturday evening without Bild am Sonntag being quoted on TV or radio.
And I have to tell you a little story. Years ago I was working for a rather left-wing fee-financed TV station for 3 months. Guess what the boss was reading in the morning? Bild-Zeitung.
Also, I was very impressed by the courage of these two Bild am Sonntag journalists who were held captive in Iran because of their critical reports. I do not know of any other German journalists who would have taken that risk.
But most importantly Bild like all Axel Springer publications is pro-Israel, pro-American and pro-West.
You should not rely too much on their horoscope though. Last week they promised me passionate nights, and all I got was flue!
Update Nov. 30: OK, OK, I admit it! The real reason why I read Bildzeitung is the “Love is …” cartoon on last page. My favorite this week:
Liebe ist … ein Blick, der alles sagt.
Love is … a look that says everything.