Publicly active

Plans are underway to hold this year’s specialist conference öffentlich wirken (taking action in the public life) as a BarCamp event. The topic is Communication Today and Tomorrow and the event will take place in Mannheim from 13 to 14 March.

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Fake news, hate posts and manipulated opinion-forming threaten the free discourse today through distraction and disinformation. And modern technology provides the possibility for unlimited communication. It is not enough that we are able to use these powerful tools, we must also base our actions on ethical foundations.

The specialist conferences on communication entitled öffentlich wirken started in 2011 and have provided inspiration for a kind of communication that serves the common good. Since then, communication technologies, their networking potential in particular, have become even more efficient and flexible social forms have established themselves. The forthcoming conference will address this situation in three stages, using the BarCamp format moderated by Rouven Kasten (gls Bank).

Why BarCamp? Annette Bopp, a journalist and member of the preparation team, underlines the potential of this social format, «Because it can cast light on the future of communication from various perspectives and anyone attending can contribute experiences and ideas. And last but not least, BarCamps are the perfect setting for networking and making new contacts.» The planned event will have keynote contributions from Luisa Neubauer of Fridays for Future and Maren Urner, professor of media psychology at Cologne University. Constructive journalism will be a further topic.

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