From the Russian invasion of Ukraine and climate change to the COVID-19 pandemic and the return of Taliban rule in Afghanistan: We seem to find ourselves in a perpetual state of imbalance and escalating emergencies. This impression is further exacerbated as digitalization and social media prompt us to take part in each human-made crisis around the globe in real time and at an accelerating rate.
Fostering resilient journalism and civil societies
At the same time, we struggle not to lose sight of the things that really matter to us. Beyond insecurity and volatility, however, we have also learned that every crisis gives rise to new ideas – bringing new opportunities for both media professionals and their industry. So what can the media learn from dealing with crisis upon crisis? How can we actively shape our future in the long run, especially in the face of ever-changing challenges? In the wake of global digital transformation, what roles do we cut out for media professionals in the future? And how can we sustainably preserve their work and safeguard it against increasing restraints to media freedom, pluralism, and human rights?
At the Global Media Forum, Germany's international broadcaster annually brings together media professionals from around the globe in Bonn since 2008.
These are some of the questions we want to discuss at the 15th edition of the DW Global Media Forum in 2022 that will take place on June 20 and 21 both at the World Conference Center in Bonn, Germany and online. Among other things, we will examine issues like:
- How can journalism maintain its role as a reliable source of information – especially in times of crises?
- How do science journalists best deal with hot topics like climate change, pandemics and migration – as the focus on these issues grows each day?
- Beyond the crisis: How to create resilient, prepared and sustainable news reporting.
- Solution-oriented journalism: What values does constructive journalism actually bring to the newsroom?
- Disasters, so what? How Western media deal with crises in the rest of the world.
- Journalist gone activist? Exploring the red line between news reporting and advocacy.
- Under pressure: Which strategies can help to strengthen freedom of press in the face of governmental repression?
- How does digitalization influence the way we communicate with one another, both one-on-one and as societies?
- Which business models can promote a resilient, independent press?
- How can we help stop monopolies from controlling the market of intermediary platforms?
- How do diversity, (un-)conscious biases, racism and anti-racism shape the media and our societies?
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The media industry in 2050: How can we support liberal democracies and peace both on and offline and continue to expect the unexpected?
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Local means relevant: Which local (media) initiatives have succeeded internationally?
Resuming where we left off pre-pandemic in 2019, the 2022 conference will take place at the WCCB in Bonn, Germany, again.
Shaping tomorrow, now
The 15th DW Global Media Forum is an interactive, interdisciplinary future lab exploring innovative solutions for media professionals. It aims to foster resilient journalism and civil societies for the future – and thus to support democracy.
We look forward to welcoming you on June 20 and 21 to our 2022 conference to shape tomorrow, now!
Stay tuned for updates on panels, speakers, pre-conference impulses and more: Sign up for the DW Global Media Forum newsletter or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.
We look forward to welcoming you on June 20 and 21 to our 2022 conference to shape tomorrow, now!
A platform to seek solutions — together
The DW Global Media Forum offers a unique interdisciplinary platform for media professionals as well as decision-makers from politics, civil society, culture, education, business and science from all over the world to get together and to learn from each other as part of an intercultural exchange.
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DW Global Media Forum: 15 years of top speakers
"Sometimes news, sometimes information is more important for human survival than even food. That thought allowed us to keep working."
Mstyslav Chernov, Ukrainian journalist and DW Freedom of Speech Award laureate (2022)
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DW Global Media Forum: 15 years of top speakers
"If you don't have facts you don't have truth; if you don't have truth, you don't have trust."
Maria Ressa - Nobel Peace Prize laureate 2021, co-founder and CEO of the news website Rappler, Philippines (2022)
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DW Global Media Forum: 15 years of top speakers
"I firmly believe that free and democratic societies need free media to inform citizens and hold those in power accountable.”
Annalena Baerbock - German Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs (2022)
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DW Global Media Forum: 15 years of top speakers
"The word 'disruption' has to be recycled. The idea of a local newspaper is disruptive. The idea to have iPhones and be on the internet is reactive."
Timothy Snyder - Historian, Yale University, USA (2021)
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DW Global Media Forum: 15 years of top speakers
"It's a pity that when our demonstrations, because of violence and torture, disappeared from the streets, journalists lost a bit of interest."
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya - Belarusian opposition leader (2021)
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DW Global Media Forum: 15 years of top speakers
"Independent fact-based journalism has never been as important as it is today."
Armin Laschet - Minister-President of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany (2021)
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DW Global Media Forum: 15 years of top speakers
"We live in a microwave generation. Everyone wants everything too fast, but we have to put in the work."
Leymah Gbowee - Activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Liberia (2021)
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DW Global Media Forum: 15 years of top speakers
"In democratic societies where we are open to new developments, we have to keep thinking carefully about what freedom really means to us."
Angela Merkel - Federal Chancellor of Germany (2021)
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DW Global Media Forum: 15 years of top speakers
"What we want in journalism is not optimism and not cynicism, but accuracy."
Steven Pinker - Cognitive psychologist, Harvard University, USA (2021)
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DW Global Media Forum: 15 years of top speakers
"They kicked me out of Iran, but I am there every day through social media."
Masih Alinejad - Journalist and women's rights activist, Iran/USA (2020)
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DW Global Media Forum: 15 years of top speakers
"It's difficult to form a relationship with a politician who's acting like a tyrant. What questions can you ask when this person can put you in jail?"
Can Dündar - Former editor-in-chief of "Cumhuriyet", Turkey (2019)
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DW Global Media Forum: 15 years of top speakers
"We need ombudsmen for algorithms. We need some insight into them if we are to maintain our democratic political system."
Anne Applebaum - Pulitzer Prize winner, USA (2020)
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DW Global Media Forum: 15 years of top speakers
"Algorithms pick up on negative feelings such as fear and accentuate them. This has led to the creation of fear-based politics all over the world."
Jaron Lanier - Computer scientist and author, USA (2019)
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DW Global Media Forum: 15 years of top speakers
"Do governments truly have the capacity to understand emerging technologies? Communication regulations from the 1970s are not going to work for 2019."
Juliana Rotich - Tech entrepreneur, Kenya (2019)
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DW Global Media Forum: 15 years of top speakers
"We need to address the daunting challenges to development by engaging with multiple centers seeking balance rather than overreliance on one country."
Hamid Karzai - Former President of Afghanistan (2018)
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DW Global Media Forum: 15 years of top speakers
"I believe that in the digital age, public broadcasters have a more important role to play than ever before."
Tom Buhrow - Director General of Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR), Germany (2018)
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DW Global Media Forum: 15 years of top speakers
"We should all be protected by the same press freedom."
Sarah Harrison - British journalist and WikiLeaks section editor, UK (2014)
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DW Global Media Forum: 15 years of top speakers
"The freedom of the press is facing pressure on a global scale, not just abroad. I want to encourage journalists: Democracy needs you all urgently."
Frank-Walter Steinmeier - Federal President of Germany (2014)
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DW Global Media Forum: 15 years of top speakers
"Power must be in the hands of the wealth of the nation."
Noam Chomsky - Linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, historian, social critic and political activist, USA (2013)
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DW Global Media Forum: 15 years of top speakers
"Journalists must see themselves as members of a big family and stick together."
Shirin Ebadi - Lawyer, former judge and human rights activists, founder of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, Iran (2008)