{
  "id": 45080,
  "title": "Interview: „Wir sind vom Mittelmaß regiert“: Kinderbuchverlegerin fordert Bildungsreform",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/02/interview-wir-sind-vom-mittelma-regiert-kinderbuchverlegerin-fordert",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-02T13:10:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/it-medien/medien-vom-mittelmass-regiert-verlegerin-fordert-bildungsreform/100238487.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "Hamburg's Oetinger Verlag, known for publishing popular children's books such as \"Pippi Longstocking\", \"The Olchis\", and \"The Sams\", is planning to expand into the event space with an interactive experience for \"The Olchis\" beginning in the fall. Despite the crisis in the publishing industry, Verlag director Julia Bielenberg remains optimistic, stating that her team is constantly coming up with new ideas. However, Bielenberg is particularly concerned about the declining reading skills of children in Germany.\n\nShe argues that if just one out of every four cars were abandoned, immediate action would be taken, but when one out of every four children cannot read, no action is taken. This lack of reading proficiency, according to Bielenberg, has serious economic consequences, as young people enter the workforce with inadequate educational backgrounds. The publishers are calling for a major educational reform, but they also hold parents accountable. They believe that with many children unable to complete simple tasks independently, there needs to be a form of \"parental license\".\n\nBielenberg and her colleagues Christian Graef and Thilo Schmid are not placing much hope in the federal government for a significant reform package. They claim that the government's efforts have been incremental and minimal. Bielenberg expresses frustration with the lack of substantial change in Berlin, stating that she now merely \"chuckles\" at the political developments.",
  "summary": "Hamburg-based Oetinger Verlag, which publishes popular children's books such as \"Pippi Langstrumpf\" and \"Die Olchis,\" has called for a significant educational reform in Germany. In an interview with Handelsblatt, Verlegerin Julia Bielenberg expressed her frustration with the declining reading skills among children, stating that the current lack of action is causing serious economic consequences. She emphasized that if only one in four cars were left idle, immediate measures would be taken, but when one in four children cannot read, no action is taken. Bielenberg suggests that there should be a \"parent driving license\" to address the issue, as many children now cannot perform simple tasks independently. While she has high hopes for the federal government, she does not expect much improvement from the current policy, describing it as \"mere tiptoeing.\"",
  "key_points": [
    "Oetinger Verlag plans interactive \"Olchis\" experience",
    "Bielenberg concerned about declining children's reading skills",
    "Publishers demand major educational reform"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}