Public service broadcasting: Strengthen digital spaces for democracy!
Public service broadcasting: Strengthen digital spaces for democracy!
Weimar, Deutschland - The discussion about digital environmental and the role of public service broadcasting (ÖRR) in today's information society is becoming increasingly important. In the “Digital Environment” courses at the Bauhaus University in Weimar, it is examined how the ÖRR can contribute to the creation of common good-oriented and democracy-promoting rooms. According to the article from the Bauhaus University Weimar, the environment extends beyond city limits and includes both physical and digital networks. The participants, including Jun.-Prof. Dr. Jürgen Rösch and his colleagues, emphasize that digital spaces are not neutral and that algorithmic structures and economic interests have a strong influence on the visibility of content.
Jürgen Rösch emphasizes that it is important to understand the functioning of these digital spaces, especially in view of the increasing disinformation that is spread in our society. This study aims to promote critical awareness of digital infrastructures and their influence on democracy and participation, since nowadays few large corporations control the digital infrastructure, which restricts democratic influence.
The challenge of fake news
In parallel to these developments, a study by the ZDF, which was presented to the ZDF Board of Directors of Malu Dreyer, has examined the need to create a digital space to take action against hate and fake news. In this comprehensive analysis, it is determined that large social media platforms often rely less on knowledge transfer and integration, but primarily have profit orientation in view. The study calls on public service broadcasting to act fact-based and to play an active role as a central player in the media landscape.Experts appeal to the ZDF to face these challenges and to develop interactive formats as well as cooperation with other media professionals and science. The “ZDF Goes School” initiative is a concrete example that aims to teach children and adolescents how to recognize fake news. In addition to the pedagogical work, the "ZDFMit talk" platform is also an important element that enables citizens to actively participate in the discussion about media content.
media literacy as a key
The problem of fake news and disinformation is now a permanently established topic in media reporting and research. As the Federal Center for Political Education describes, trust in political and media institutions is crucial for the reception of fake news. The findings from recent years show that incorrect information is often spread through political manipulation and ideology. An important part of the solutions are to promote media literacy in order to enable citizens to recognize and critically question false information.
Investigations show that intensive broadcasters of fake news often have a high media literacy in terms of dealing with information. This realization illustrates that a differentiated strategy is necessary to effectively counter the growing influence of fake news on opinion formation in our society. Empowerment through education and critical reflection is essential to counteract a possible abuse of information.
In summary, the creation of a democratic and integrative digital space, as the initiatives of ZDF and the Bauhaus University research, is of central importance for the future of public education and opinion formation in an increasingly digitized world. These developments present not only the media, but also society as a whole.| Details | |
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| Ort | Weimar, Deutschland |
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