2018-12-04

#rp19 Call for Participation: The "Media & Journalism"-Track

2007 was the big bang of re:publica. At first a bloggermeeting IRL during which it became clear to everyone: we are all media producers - or could be. In this track we call upon all those who define themselves as such - plus all media professionals, journalists, bloggers, storytellers and citizen journalism projects - to share their opinions, research and experiences on media and journalism in a digitalized world. Our very analogue stage is waiting for you; join us in our Call for Participation.

The good, the bad, the ugly: we are interested in what you have to say about all things media, in particular beyond the narrative of filter bubbles.

The good: Cross-border cooperations in (investigative) journalism, new formats for journalistic research, great forms of storytelling, new insights through data journalism – please inundate us your examples, because we know there are many of them.

Which innovative concepts for journalism have you tested? What possibilities have opened up through a flood of free media on the one hand and new forms of paid-content constructs on the other? How are target groups reached or even better: invited to participate? What type of actors are actually romping about the media landscape in 2019? How can forensic research in social media help address war crimes? Can new types of YouTube channels save us in the end? What are the best blogs, vlogs, podcasts and innovative formats beyond? How is VR/AR developed as a medium and how does immersive journalism work? What happens to public service broadcasters? Will society collectively mutate into series bingewatchers? And: who is still watching TV?

The bad: The dying of local newspapers, mudslinging in commentary columns, troll farms, Lügenpresse, social media monopolies and all things fake: we also want to hear about the dark sides of the brave new world, and in particular your thorough analysis of it. How can we ensure that high-quality journalism will continue to exist and function as the fourth estate, and where are the opportunities and risks of social media as the fifth estate in 2019? Do we have more narratives or news? Will Facebook be crushed or is it already dead anyway? And last but not least: how can the Internet itself still be saved?

The ugly: Where and how can I reach my target groups in the future if I just want to continue posting cat pictures? No, honestly: we like cats.

What's more:

The track "Media & Journalism" is about lofty ideals like the status of media freedom and the shifting of the public spheres, just as it is there to answer the question: what comes after Snapchat?

We are curious about the results of investigative-journalistic research, about the contributions from Hashtag campaign initiators, about reports from social media analysts and, last but not least, about influencers (and about whether and how they make a meaningful contribution to the media landscape).
We are interested in debates on copyright that are comprehensible for everyone. We want to gain insights into what the future of public service broadcasters can be and how this is negotiated. How do you view today's developments through the lense of media history? How can media theory help us set analytical frameworks in turbulent times?

The countdown is on. You have until December 16, 2018 to submit lectures and panel discussions, concepts for hands-on workshops in the MakerSpace, VR performances, installations and everything that re:publica 2019 should not miss.

Take part in the Call for Participation and send us your festival entry by December 16, 2018.

We are looking forward to your submissions and will from now press the refresh button on our Call for Participation platform every second.