Facts or Fake News?

Misinformation, Media, and Freedom of Opinion

We live in the information age, surrounded by news, updates, and data – the world’s knowledge never more than a few clicks away. And yet, it sometimes seems harder than ever to agree on a shared reality, whether it’s about climate change, crime, or COVID-19. Why is that? What role does (social) media play? What challenges lie ahead? And what can we, as a society, do about it?

This debate format, inspired by the British House of Commons, brings all perspectives respectfully into the discussion. The special feature: the audience can actively express their views on various theses by choosing where to sit, joining experts from society, politics, and science in shaping the debate. Your opinion is not only welcome – it’s essential!

In cooperation with the Franckeschen Stiftungen, der Kulturstiftung des Bundes, and science2public

With:
Dr. Philipp Lorenz-Spreen, Network scientist, Max Planck Institute for Human Development on political opinion formation in social media
Prof. Dr. Tobias Rothmund, Communication and media psychologist, director at the Center for Research on Right-Wing Extremism, Democracy Education, and Social Integration at Friedrich Schiller University Jena
Bernd Schloemer, Sociologist and criminologist, State Secretary for Digitalization in Saxony-Anhalt

Moderation: Kerstin Hoppenhaus, Science Journalist, Kai Kupferschmidt, Science Journalist