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 presenting their work, 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. There was also an interactive program for the many children among the visitors - they could design magazine covers in the screen-printing workshop of the neighbourhood newspaper Donauwelle, try out instruments at the Sound Mobile of the Klingendes Museum or tell stories with a pencil in the comic workshop of Pipe-Up!.

Program Highlights

In a world in which we are confronted with a daily deluge of conflicting information, people need concrete guidance and support. The CORRECTIV.Faktenforum therefore showed how facts can be checked and what can be done to counter false claims. At Tactical Tech's 'Data Detox Bar,' there were opportunities to examine one's own media use through practical solutions and tips in the form of playful cocktail recipes. Mastodon, a decentralised social media network, was also on site to explain the first steps for using the platform and to present the advantages of this alternative to mainstream social media platforms."

There were also a range of offers for young people in the program, including a workshop on social media and beauty standards by author and journalist Rabea Weihser, and a discussion between the Jugendpresse and local school newspaper editors 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.

Photo credits: Paul Probst