Making Media Better

The future of journalism, its crucial role in democracy and the public's media literacy - these are the challenges many people at Publix work on every day. On Sunday the 29th of June, more than 1.000 visitors came to engage with these pressing issues as Publix opened their doors for their second open house. Guided by the slogan ‘Making Media Better,’ the open house comprised a diverse program of workshops, talks, hands-on activities, and market stands open to adults, young people, and children.

The program was spread across the ground floor – from the intimate ‘Box’ overlooking Hermannstraße, to the spacious garden-facing conference room, and the open plan ‘Forum,’ where attendees heard Publix director Maria Exner in conversation with Luise Sammann (Deutschlandfunk) about the future of quality media, and with Inga Gertmann (More in Common) and Marina Dias Weis (Interkular) about interaction and cohesion in Germany and Neukölln.

The garden hosted market stands from resident and associated organisations such as Codetekt, CORRECTIV, Pipe Up!, Superrr Lab, and Reporters Without Borders Germany, among others. There, a steady stream of Neukölln neighbours, friends, family, and acquaintances of Publix explored the work of the various organisations. An interactive program for children also took place in the garden, including a screen-printing workshop from the local newspaper Donauwelle and the Sound Mobile from the Klingendes Museum Berlin.

Program Highlights

In a world in which we are confronted with a daily deluge of conflicting information, people need concrete guidance. This theme shaped the program, including workshops such as the CORRECTIV.Faktenforum which introduced the basics of independent fact-checking and geo-location to the audience to counter false claims and disinformation.

Tactical Tech brought their Data Detox Bar to the garden – an educational activation and intervention which offers practical solutions and tips in the form of playful ‘cocktail recipes’ to ‘detox’ your digital life. Mastodon, a de-centralised social media network, also hosted a workshop to introduce people to their platform and present the advantages of this alternative to mainstream social media platforms.

To support young people navigate the current media landscape, the program incorporated a workshop on Social Media and beauty standards by author and journalist Rabea Weihser, and a discussion with editorial staff from the Jugendpresse and two local Berlin student newspapers about the influence and agenda-setting of school newspapers. Publix also exhibited three winning photo-series from the laif foundation’s youth photography competition. As a celebratory end to the day, the laif foundation awarded class 8a of the Hugo Gaudig School in Tempelhof the first place prize of the youth photo competition with their series 'Gemeinsam statt Einsam' and had the chance to discuss their work on the Publix stage.

Photocredits: Paul Probst