Our topics in March
The new issue will be published on Tuesday, 3 March. You can order it online as a single issue.
Dear reader
Paths to addiction: Alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, ecstasy - for many young people today, intoxicants are normal and part of growing up. Not an easy time for parents who are asking themselves agonising questions: Why is my child smoking pot? How much is too much? When is it addictive? This «Addiction» dossier provides answers. Among other things, you can read about how to talk to your child about drugs.
If, for whatever reason, you can only read a single text in this issue and would like a recommendation - voilà: Our columnist Mikael Krogerus takes you back to 1966. 21 years after the end of the war, the German philosopher and sociologist Theodor W. Adorno addressed all of the country's educators on the radio. In his famous lecture «Education after Auschwitz», he implored an entire generation of teachers that the primary goal of all education must be to never let something like the Holocaust happen again. In essence, Adorno said, there are two aspects that prevent us from being gripped by harshness and coldness towards ourselves and others: Autonomy and empathy.
Krogerus invites us to remember Adorno's educational ideals in view of the increase in reactionary ways of thinking, growing anti-Semitism and nationalism. His plea for more humanity culminates in this favourite sentence of mine, a kind of key to life: «We must not rob our children of what they have ahead of us, namely the dream of complete happiness for themselves and for all.»
«I am the president of an independent country. Nobody can put me under pressure. Only one person can do that - my six-year-old son.»
Volodymyr Selensky, President of Ukraine
«Beatings and awards have one thing in common - you never get used to them.» This quote comes from the Austrian singer-songwriter Rainhard Fendrich. As far as awards are concerned, I agree with the man (fortunately, I don't have the experience when it comes to awards): After winning the Q Award twice for the best Swiss trade magazine, this time it's even a European prize for Fritz+Fränzi: the European Magazine Award. And once again we are all pretty excited.
The most important European media award for our small, fine parenting guide - wow! Awarded by an international jury - what an honour! We won in the «Indie» category. This category recognises magazines that are published without the support of a major publisher. Fritz+Fränzi is published by the non-profit foundation Elternsein. Ellen Ringier founded the foundation in 2001 - with a single goal: to support parents in their challenging parenting work and make them strong.
The award is both recognition and an incentive for us. On behalf of the Stiftung Elternsein and the editorial team, I would like to say thank you, thank you very much. To the jury. But also to you, dear reader. For your support. Your loyalty. Your trust. The award ceremony will take place on 26 April at Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna. We will celebrate and report back.
Yours sincerely - Nik Niethammer