Medien und Demokratie

A democratic society relies on media that is both free and independent. It ensures that diverse perspectives are  heard and encourages political participation among citizens. However, in today’s world, where misinformation can easily manipulate public opinion and erode trust in democratic processes, understanding the media’s role becomes crucial. Beyond just providing information, the media  shapes narratives, influences public discourse, and holds those in power accountable. The emergence of social  media, algorithms, and artificial intelligence adds complexity to this dynamic, offering both opportunities and  challenges. The latest annual World Press Freedom Index (Reporters Without Borders) confirms the ongoing  trend of a global decline in press freedom: violence and threats against journalists are on the rise, as are actions  that undermine the role of journalists or instrumentalise the media through campaigns of harassment or disinformation. Especially in the super-election year of 2024, democratic governments are more and more challenged  to protect journalists, as press freedom is a crucial precondition for forming an independent opinion and informed  election decision. Building on the success of last year's International Day of Democracy Conference, the Polit-Forum Bern and the  Swiss Democracy Foundation SDF are organising the second edition on 11 September 2024 with a renewed  focus on strengthening democracy. This year’s conference on «Media and democracy: collecting tools and options for action» is aiming to gather leading experts and practitioners from various countries and backgrounds to  discuss and share best practices on how democracy can be strengthened through media engagement in four  focus areas: 

- Public Service Media: Exploring tools and successful examples of public service media to promote  democracy. 

- Social Media: Examining effective strategies for using social media in supporting democratisation. 

- Media Literacy: Defining meaningful media literacy and exploring comprehensive approaches. 

- Voting and Elections: Analysing the media’s influence on elections and voting, drawing lessons from  the 2024 super-election year.

Medien und Demokratie - Polit-Forum Bern (polit-forum-bern.ch)