Viernull

VierNull (in English: FourZero) is a media outlet from and about Düsseldorf. Born out of a motivation to counteract the increasing concentration of local news, and what its founders saw as a resulting reduction in quality, the outlet was established in 2021 following a successful crowdfunding campaign.

Realising that a single media company was increasingly dominating local reporting in the region - Rheinische Post Media Group - the four VierNull founders came together, aiming to provide independent news about the city and surrounding areas. Its vision is to offer the information and impulses necessary for Düsseldorf's citizens to form their opinions and become more actively engaged with local political realities.

Two of the co-founders used to work for regional news outlets, including Rheinische Post, and all four founders have a solid link to and understanding of Düsseldorf. Through them and many other independent reporters, VierNull can tell local stories that would otherwise remain untold.

The name, VierNull, refers to the first two postcode digits of the organisation's target area. Every weekday, subscribers receive a daily newsletter at 5:30am, focusing on the main daily article and with recommendations for Düsseldorf and the wider region. The four focus areas are politics, environment and traffic, economy, and entertainment. Rather than providing a variety of fast-paced news snippets, each article is based on in-depth research, providing solutions rather than grounds for scandalisation. Since 2022, VierNull has had a true crime podcast called Kohle, Knast & Kaviar (in English: Money, Prison, and Caviar).

VierNull was initially funded through a crowdfunding campaign, but it now finances itself with a subscription model. The funding streams are being diversified to ensure sustainability and growth in its second year, for example, by offering an alternative city tour.