Blick nach Rechts

Blick nach Rechts, commonly abbreviated BNR and translated as “View to the Right,” is a German-language information and media service focused on far-right extremism and related political activity. Its stated purpose is to draw attention to developments in the far-right scene that its initiators believe receive insufficient coverage in the wider German media. The service operates as a specialist publication rather than as a general-interest newspaper, combining current reporting with background material, commentary, archival content, and information about anti-extremism initiatives. The publication began as a printed periodical and appeared in print from 1984 until 2004. Since 2004 it has been published online as a bimonthly-style digital magazine appearing every two weeks, with as many as 26 issues in a year. The most recent issue is generally accessible without charge, while access to the historical archive and internal search functions is associated with registration and an annual subscription. Annual subscribers may also receive issues in electronic-paper format. The BNR website is organized around several editorial and participatory areas. “BNR aktuell” covers current news, events, and activities. “Hintergrund” provides contextual material, while “Meinungen” carries commentary and selected letters to the editor. A continuously updated “brandaktuell” section points readers toward daily developments relevant to the subject. The service also maintains an archive reaching back to 1996, a calendar of activities, information on initiatives opposing right-wing extremism, and interactive features for subscribers and supporters. Editorially, BNR combines reporting by journalists and political scientists with contributions from specialist authors and freelancers. The publication has not maintained a permanent, comprehensive roster of authors. The reference material identifies journalist Helmut Lölhöffel as editor, Berliner Vorwärts Verlagsgesellschaft mbH as publisher, and Ute Vogt, a former German state minister and Social Democratic Party figure, as patron. These roles describe the publication’s editorial and institutional structure rather than establishing that any one individual owns the brand. The service has also been the subject of political scrutiny. In September 2004, CDU/CSU parliamentarians initiated a federal inquiry concerning public financial support and the presence of links from the BNR website to organizations and websites that the inquirers associated with the far-left. The federal government stated that the service’s objective of informing the public about current developments and backgrounds in right-wing extremism was worthy of support. It also noted that BNR disclaimed responsibility for third-party content and had already removed the links that had prompted criticism. The inquiry illustrates the political sensitivity of publicly supported media addressing extremism, but does not by itself establish wrongdoing by the publication. Blick nach Rechts remains a specialist German media brand whose identity is defined by monitoring, explaining, and documenting far-right activity. Its principal offering is recurring digital editorial content, supported by archival and participatory services, rather than consumer products or conventional commercial media franchises.

Blick nach Rechts was established as a specialist publication addressing right-wing extremism in Germany. The available reference material does not identify a specific founder or provide a precise founding date, although it records that the periodical appeared in print between 1984 and 2004. Its editorial rationale was that far-right activities and developments were not receiving sufficient attention in the broader media environment. BNR therefore developed as an information and documentation service centered on monitoring the far-right scene, explaining its activities, and connecting readers with relevant civic initiatives. During its print period, the publication functioned as a recurring journal. In 2004 it moved from print to an online publishing model. The digital service continued to appear every two weeks, potentially producing up to 26 issues annually. This change made the publication’s most recent material available online and enabled a larger structured archive. The website later described access through a combination of freely available current articles and subscription-based archive features. Annual subscribers could obtain electronic-paper versions, while registered subscribers could search older issues and use interactive functions. The online structure broadened BNR beyond a conventional magazine. “BNR aktuell” became the principal area for current reporting on events and activities. “brandaktuell” gathered links to urgent daily developments, and “Hintergrund” supplied explanatory material. “Meinungen” presented commentary and selected correspondence. The “Aktiv” section maintained a calendar and information about organizations and projects opposing right-wing extremism. An interactive area allowed subscribers to read or submit correspondence, publicize projects, and encourage others to subscribe. The archive extended at least to 1996, creating a historical resource for researchers and readers tracking the development of the German far-right. BNR’s editorial production relied on a changing group of journalists, political scientists, and subject-matter experts rather than a fixed public list of staff authors. The reference material identifies Helmut Lölhöffel as editor, Berliner Vorwärts Verlagsgesellschaft mbH as publisher, and Ute Vogt as patron. The publication’s institutional associations and public-interest mission placed it within Germany’s broader network of organizations and media projects concerned with documenting extremism and supporting democratic opposition to it. The service attracted political criticism in 2004. On 28 September of that year, the CDU/CSU parliamentary group asked the federal government to explain financial support for BNR and objected to links from the service’s website to groups and websites that the questioners characterized as far-left or extremist. The inquiry suggested that public money might be supporting a platform that, in the critics’ view, extended beyond opposition to right-wing extremism. BNR had already removed the links at issue and stated that it did not adopt or endorse the content of third-party websites. In its response, the federal government said that BNR’s purpose of informing and educating the public about current developments and background concerning right-wing extremism was deserving of support. It also emphasized the publication’s disclaimer concerning linked third-party content and its request that users report inaccurate, unlawful, or altered material. The government response recorded public support of 56,497.75 Deutsche Mark for BNR in 2000. Because the figure is tied to a historical government response and no primary source URL is supplied here, it is not treated as a current financial metric in this dossier. Following its transition to the internet, BNR’s identity has remained that of a specialized German-language media and information service. Its continuing model combines recurring editorial issues, current alerts, background reporting, archive access, commentary, and information about anti-extremism activities. The available material does not establish a precise current ownership structure, revenue profile, employee count, or corporate valuation.

• 2004

  Transition from print to online magazine

  [1]Blick nach Rechtsen.wikipedia.org

  After two decades as a printed periodical, BNR moved to an online magazine appearing every two weeks.

• 2004

  Federal inquiry into public support and website links

  [1]Blick nach Rechtsen.wikipedia.org

  A CDU/CSU parliamentary inquiry examined public funding and links from the BNR website to groups and websites criticized as far-left. The federal government continued to regard BNR’s anti-extremism information mission as supportable.

• 1996

  Online archive reaches back to 1996

  [1]Blick nach Rechtsen.wikipedia.org

  The later website structure includes an archive of issues extending back to 1996.

• 1984

  Print publication period begins

  [1]Blick nach Rechtsen.wikipedia.org

  The reference material records BNR as appearing in print from 1984, although it does not identify a precise founding date or founder.

A specialist German-language information service that monitors and explains far-right extremism, combining current reporting, contextual analysis, archival research, and information about civic initiatives.

• Digital news and information service · 2004

  Blick nach Rechts online magazine

  The core product is a German-language online magazine issued every two weeks. It reports on far-right activities and related political developments, and supplements news coverage with commentary and explanatory material. Recent issue content is generally available without charge, while the subscription model supports access to the archive and additional reader features.

• Digital archive

  BNR archive

  The archive provides access to historical issues, with the recorded collection extending back to 1996. Registered annual subscribers can use the archive and an internal keyword search to research the publication’s coverage of far-right organizations, events, and developments.

• Community and civic information

  Aktiv and Interaktiv services

  These website areas support participation and civic engagement. They include an activities calendar, information about initiatives opposing right-wing extremism, subscriber correspondence, project announcements, and tools for encouraging new readers. The material positions BNR not only as a publication but also as an information hub for democratic anti-extremism work.

• 2004

  Inquiry over public funding and links to left-wing groups

  The CDU/CSU parliamentary group challenged federal support for BNR and criticized links on its website to organizations and websites it associated with the far-left. The federal government responded that BNR’s mission of informing the public about right-wing extremism was worthy of support, while BNR’s disclaimer made clear that it did not adopt third-party content. The material does not establish legal wrongdoing by BNR.

  Source

Read more

• 2004

  Move from print publishing to an online magazineStrategy

  Background

  BNR had appeared as a printed periodical from 1984 through 2004 and subsequently adopted a digital publishing model.

  Action taken

  The service began appearing online every two weeks, supplemented by subscription-based electronic-paper and archive access.

  Aftermath

  The transition established the current digital format and enabled a searchable archive, current-news sections, and interactive subscriber features.

  Source

• 2004

  Removal of disputed third-party linksOther

  Background

  Parliamentary critics objected to links from the BNR website to groups and websites they characterized as far-left or extremist.

  Action taken

  The disputed links were removed, and the publication maintained a disclaimer that it did not adopt the content of linked third-party sites.

  Aftermath

  The federal government cited the disclaimer and removal of the links when responding to the inquiry into BNR’s public support.

  Source

1. 1Blick nach Rechtsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Blick nach Rechts official websitebnr.de