Welcome to "ansTageslicht.de": bringing facts to light

What we do:

German Page: please click here

This can be described in a single sentence: We document how people and media change the world.

Most of the time this happens just a little bit. But it works continuously. And that's why we want to motivate people to push everything forward in this way.

We document this connection, that people and media (can) change the world, with different examples:

  • Stories that other journalists have researched and published. And who were awarded a "Wächterpreis der Tagespresse" (Guardian Prize of the Daily Press) for this.
  • The importance and indispensable role of informants and whistleblowers.
  • And also on the basis of our own stories and topics, which we research ourselves.

Most of the stories take place in Germany or other European countries. A part, however, also in Russia, because Russian students and young journalists had been involved in this project, formerly: people - media - democracy.

The individual locations worldwide you can find out via our world map.

"Stories"

is what we do. Or in what we 'package' our contents. Currently there are round about two hundred that have been created since 2004.

They are currently sorted by 30 topics. For example at the bottom or above here at Geschichten nach Themen.

The stories are also sorted according to whether they have received a "Wächterpreis der Tagespresse". Or if "Whistleblower" plays a role. But it can also be found on the world map or along the timeline of years, embedded in an annual chronicle. All accesses: always at the top - above the large picture that can be found on every page.

Please note: So far only a very small part of our topics and stories are in English. We prefer to translate our texts when it comes to the international problem of potentially contaminated cabin air, keywords: fume event or aerotoxic syndrome. You will find these areas at

and the actual blog "aerotoxic logbook" at

If we speak about us

"we": these are students from Germany and Russia, some journalists and a small crew of permanent people.  More about us and about ansTageslicht.de can be found under more about us here right below. And in the imprint at the bottom of each page.

One of our current main topics: Sick through work. Or: A realm of shades works as cartel of silence.

Those who fall ill are helped. This is the normal way. However, those who fall ill at the workplace are in bad hands. Help is only provided, if at all, after "proof of causality". In other words: the idea of a "Statutory Accident Insurance" ("Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung") for employees has meanwhile perverted itself into the opposite. The "occupational medicine" sector and the system of German statutory accident insurance ("DGUV") have built up a unique shadow empire - a cartel of secrecy: connections about the dangerousness of certain "hazardous substances" and their consequences for health are regularly denied. No matter whether it is asbestos, dioxin or mercury. This is also the case with Fume Events, which can take place on airplanes. The injured remain standing alone in the rain ...

In addition to the problem of the occurance of contaminated cabin air you can get informed on actual developments at the Aerotoxic Logbook in English: www.ansTageslicht.de/ENATLB.

New regulations concerning data protection and private secrecy

Because of the new basic data protection regulation, we have compiled a statement that explains how we handle data and what we cannot (and do not want) do.

Hier geht's zu Datenschutz bei ansTageslicht.de

Stories according topics

Themen

Organized by topic(s). Instead of less rough categories like "politics", "economy", "society" etc: here in currently 25 topic categories. Because many stories contain several aspects, they can also be called up by means of "tags" under other topics.

Alle Themen

Stories awarded a "Wächterpreis"

All stories that have been awarded a "Wächterpreis der Tagespresse" since 2003. It is one of the most prestigious and desired prizes for journalists who research hard and always stay on the ball. And publish consequently: without regard to names and persons, jobs or functions.

Hier geht's zu den Wächterpreis-Geschichten

Whistleblowing - Whistleblower

We document the stories of whistleblowers. Why they sound the alarm and what problems, grievances and wrongdoing, risks and injustices they point out. They are people who show courage. Because they are not protected in Germany and take high risks themselves - for the benefit of others or the general public.

Alles über Whistleblower

Our World Map

On the world map you will find everything geographically: by places and countries. But also listed by theme category. From Guantanamo (Cuba) in the west to Vladivostok (Russia) in the east.

Zur Weltkarte

Chronicle

In the chronicle section we have linked the most important events of the world with our stories. Sorted by years. And according to other aspects

Zur Chronik

ansTageslicht.de and the WIKIPEDIA-project

We research first and then publish. With WIKIPEDIA it's the other way around: It relies on errors being corrected. If it happens. The DokZentrum ansTageslicht.de is not an anonymous source and therefore we are also responsible for our content in terms of press law - unlike WIKIPEDIA. There we were even on the "blacklist", as we had been told.

Read more

Current Stories

Here you can view our five most recent stories, which have recently gone online - in German (of course):

Online am: 20.10.2023 | Aktualisiert am: 22.10.2023

Über und unter der Erde: der visionäre Plan einer schnellen Eisenbahn durchs Ruhrgebiet. Und warum er scheiterte.

Visionäre, sprich nachhaltige Pläne lassen sich schwer durchsetzen, wenn die kartellierte Macht geballter Interessen dagegen hält, die sich einer solchen Herausforderung nicht stellen mögen. Deswegen wurde auch nichts aus der "Rheinisch-Westfälischen Städtebahn" zwischen Köln - Düsseldorf - Duisburg - Dortmund.

weiterlesen

Online am: 03.10.2023 | Aktualisiert am: 05.10.2023

Wie in Deutschland nach 1945 die Zivilgesellschaft entstand

Eine kleine Chronologie in 7 Zeitabschnitten: vom "Wirtschaftswunder" bis hin zu "Wir sind das Volk" im Jahr 1989: maßgebliche Akteure und Bürger, Veränderungen und Erfolge

weiterlesen
Wächterpreis

Online am: 03.08.2023 | Aktualisiert am: 15.09.2023

Skandaljugendamt Kreis Lippe: das Martyrium einer Mutter

Vermutlich eine alltägliche Geschichte wie bei vielen anderen Jugendamts-Behörden. Denn Beörden sind staatliche Monopole, die oft Eltern ihren eigenen Willen aufzuzwingen versuchen. Wie beim "Martyrium einer Mutter". Das Jugendamt geht dabei soweit, vor Gericht zu lügen.

weiterlesen
Whistleblower

Online am: 17.07.2023 | Aktualisiert am: 17.07.2023

Contergan. Eine Katastrophe, die nicht hätte passieren müssen

Wie vor 60 Jahren der schlimmste Arzneimittelskandal der Nachkriegszeit aufflog. Welche Rolle ein Unternehmen aus Aachen und staatliche Behörden spielten. Und wie ein Hamburger Arzt und ein Anwalt aus dem Sauerland mit Wut und Mut einen gesellschaftlichen Wandel einleiteten.

weiterlesen
Wächterpreis

Online am: 20.06.2023 | Aktualisiert am: 05.07.2023

Millionendeal des Hamburger Finanzsenators mit einem Parteigenossen

Es ist immer das Gleiche: Obwohl man als Politiker eigentlich wissen müsste, dass Vetternwirtschaft nicht unerkannt bleibt, geschieht es dennoch. Diesesmal in Hamburg. Großauftrag für einen Parteigenossen. Aber: Der Deal musste wieder rück-abgewickelt werden.

weiterlesen

The structure of our stories

We do both: we document these stories and we look into the stories behind these stories. In concrete terms, we document,

  • What circumstance gave rise to the story? How could the scandal become known?
  • Who exactly is involved?
  • How was the reporter able to get necessary information? What was the approach?
  • What impact did the story? And of whom?
  • How the story moved on? What is the current status?
  • What is to be done when you have to handle a similar situation.

Each story always consists of a) several chapters and b) a regular introduction to a topic with a short description of what it is about. And what we have put online.

The most important - and therefore the most detailed - chapter is the chronology. In it everything is collected: from the very beginning. And until today.

And we'll show you what you can do yourself - for example, if you don't agree with a particular situation or grievance. And want to insist on change. Or at least want further information. You will find these chapters under the title What Can You Do, abbreviated WKMT in German ("Was kann man tun?").

Where to find us

On the Internet, of course. The domain name is also our program: www.ansTageslicht.de. (German), English: www.in2public.org.

The "DokZentrum ansTageslicht.de" is linked to various universities:

You can write to us centrally via the email-adress redaktion[at]ansTageslicht.de. 

And you also can find us on facebook: www.facebook.com/ansTageslicht.de.

Our partners

We cooperate with several partners:

  • the Foundation "Freiheit der Presse", Bad Vilbel, which awards the "Wächterpreis of the Daily Press",
  • the Whistleblower Network in Berlin - here among other things in our (partial) project Whistleblowing,
  • up to now the Faculty of Journalism in Moscow, which has been part of Lomonosov University (Moscow State University) and the Free Russian - German Institute of Journalism (FRDIP). The stories that have emerged in this context can be found at Menschen-Medien-Demokratie (people, the media and democracy).
  • And we work together with journalists and media, whose stories we reconstruct or rework with background.
  • And of course with those people who are called informants or whistleblowers, when they give important information to the media or to us.

About us

In order to guarantee

  • independency and
  • its continuity as well as
  • research & teaching

the "DokZentrum ansTageslicht.de" is linked to other universities - formerly Hamburg, now in Cologne, Berlin and Potsdam, Bielefeld.

What exactly we do, which ideas and goals guide us, how we organize this, you can find out under How we work: Wie wir arbeiten. And here is more about us: mehr über uns. We also explain why we consider WIKIPEDIA to be unreliable and actually not really necessary: Warum wir WIKIPEDIA für unzuverlässig und eigentlich für überflüssig halten. And that is not only because we are blacklisted at WIKIPEDIA. We do not know why.

Who is responsible for the project or parts of it and in terms of German Press Law you will see in the Imprint / Contact at the bottom of each site.

The names of the respective project participants can be found here under The participating and former students: Die beteiligten und ehemaligen Studenten.

If you want to give hints (e.g. on mistakes), have criticism, ideas or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are very grateful for such information. The easiest and fastest way is via e-mail:

You can also use these addresses if you want to receive our newsletter (once a month). And of course, if you would like to send us other information etc.

If you want to send us sensitive information, please read here first "How to communicate safely": Wie Sie sicher mit uns kommunizieren können.In addition to that we can assure you to be protected: Nobody and no institution can force us to reveal our sources.