Printers, publishers, paper makers: we all speak the same language. And what it all boils down to is: how can we convey our message to our audience in the clearest, most appealing way? In What’s Next Issue 5, we pay closer attention to language. Both in the literal and the not-so-literal meaning of the word.

When languages meet

What’s Next went to Belgium to interview the Flemish-speaking Marc Reynebeau (Knack/De Standaard) and his French-speaking counterpart Beatrice Delvaux (Le Soir). As we found out, communicating to a national audience in two different languages can be quite complex. But not half so complex as communicating with today’s youth. After all: how to reach an audience that ‘doesn’t read anymore’?

A matter of opinion

Even in Germany, not every medium speaks the same ‘language’. We examined how leading newspapers and websites tell quite a different story about the same day’s events. Furthermore, we asked Mark Porter (The Guardian) how he translated his newspaper to ‘digital’ for the iPad, and we saw how language intertwines with learning at a multi-lingual school in Haïti. And last but not least: did you know that even cities have their own language? A breathtaking series of images that speak for themselves, captures the soul of the bustling city of Mumbai.