EPRIE aims to exchange perspectives and experiences between East Asia and Europe. In 2018, we took a closer look at the challenges posed by populism and post-truth politics to the media sector and the opportunities of media innovations to tackle these issues.
Together with media practitioners, actors from civil society, scholars and politicians, we focused on the changing role of media in times of populism and post-truth politics. Traditional media outlets increasingly need to regain trust if they do not want to lose their importance. In order to face this challenge, they must find innovative ways to organize and finance journalism. Social media, on the other hand, can be used to spread populist messages, fake news and hate. However, it also allows us to develop ideas, collaborate across borders and find new ways of participation.
During the seminar, we discussed how the media is interwoven into the dynamics of populism and why post-truth and fake news appeal to so many. In workshops, we examined how media can be used to open up new channels of communication and participation. We explored how new, independent actors in Europe and East Asia disprove fake news through investigative research, data journalism and fact checking. Are there specific forms of media usage in the different countries? What effect will this innovation have on global cooperation?
We visited media and civil society organizations, held discussions with experts in the field and developed our own ideas and strategies to use new and old media in a manner beneficial to society.
4 days of sessions with alumni and visits to institutions in Brussels, Belgium.