Public Sphere for Europe!

+++ The event is fully booked. +++

Independent media in Europe is under pressure. Many media companies are struggling to transition to the digital environment and the financial challenges it poses. Increasingly powerful populist movements have sown public distrust in the media and, when in government, leveraged political power to restrict a free press. Right-wing populists continue to cultivate parallel public spheres, in which “alternative” facts proliferate. These multiple pressures are fundamentally transforming Europe’s media landscape.

Yet open societies depend on the public sphere—a space to develop opinions, for social participation, and for democratic self-determination. Because liberal democracies need an informed citizenry, they are structurally dependent on public spheres where an independent media can investigate, communicate, and hold government accountable to the people. A free and pluralistic media, including open digital spaces, provides the foundation for citizens to participate in public debates and develop the shared understandings that underpin liberal democracy.

How can we confront these threats to an independent media and to the public sphere in Europe? This conference offers a German and broadly European discussion on these core questions between professionals in the media industry, policymakers, civil society representatives, and the interested public. Free media are under pressure - this issue concerns all of us.

The discussion is expected to be broadcast on 16.12.2018 at 11:04 and 20:04 in the Inforadio Forum.             

Panel, 30.11.2018, 7 pm (19.00)

Question of Fate for Democracy:
What threatens public spheres, what strengthens them?

• Moderation: Dietmar Ringel, Inforadio (rbb)

Location: Landtag Brandenburg, Alter Markt 1, 14467 Potsdam

Unfortunately, the opening discussion is already fully booked. You are welcome to register for conference day 2.
 

Conference, 01.12.2018, 9.45 am - 5.15 pm

Public Sphere for Europe!
Changing Media Landscape, Freedom of the Press and Media Policy

With: 

• Christian Mihr, Reporter withour Borders
• Radio Słubfurt
• Barbara Thomaß, Ruhr-Universität Bochum
• Tabea Rößner MdB, Parliamentary group Bündnis 90/Die Grünen
• Christoph Singelnstein, rbb Editor in Chief, Vice Head of Program rbb
• Dorota Głowacka, Panoptykon Foundation, Warszaw
• Florian Eder, editor-in-chief politico Europe, Brussels
• Agata Szczęśniak, Oko.press Poland
• Harald Schumann, investigate-europe.eu, Tagesspiegel
• Roger de Weck, publisher&manager, former Director of SRG-SSR Switzerland
• Markus Nievelstein, ARTE Deutschland
• Republik.ch
• et al.

Location: Schinkelhalle, Schiffbauergasse 4A, 14467 Potsdam,

#medien18

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