Encounters

Perspectives on Belarus

Olga Kapustina

© DW

Katja Artsiomenka

© DW

Olga Kapustina was born and raised in Belarus. A truly global citizen, she studied journalism and German studies in Russia and Germany and has been working in the Russian department at DW for almost ten years. Her counterpart Katja Artsiomenka was also born in Belarus where she studied journalism before moving to Germany. She is a professor of journalism in Cologne and has been passionate about radio broadcasting for years.

The two journalists are the hosts of the new Russian-language edition of DW’s show To the point. The show is part of DW’s expansion of its news and information offerings for its target audience in Belarus — in Russian and Belarusian.

“Social networks play a big role in Belarus,” shares Kapustina, who is looking forward to direct exchanges with viewers. In the first broadcasts, “we want to look at the ongoing protests and ways out of the political crisis in Belarus, in addition to topics that are also important for Belarus, such as nuclear power, memory culture, flight and migration,” she says.

For Artsiomenka, it is crucial that the show presents the “diversity of perspectives and background information for discussion and thus to support the free formation of public opinion and will in Belarus.”

The journalists welcome constructive criticism on the show. Due to the pandemic, it is challenging to have lively conversations with guests virtually, but nonetheless, they are looking forward to meeting more people from all over the world — even if only virtually.

dw.com/by

Working together for transparency and media freedom

Norbert Barthle

© DW / B. Geilert

Peter Limbourg

© DW / J. Röhl

German Development Ministry and DW Akademie launch crisis initiative.

In the ongoing pandemic, media around the world are under tremendous pressure. The economic crisis is being felt in newsrooms, and in many regions, government censorship, misinformation and disinformation are making journalists’ work more difficult. The initiative aims to strengthen local media.

“Reliable information has rarely been so important. Disinformation and censorship are increasing worldwide and are as dangerous as the virus itself,” said DW Director General Peter Limbourg at the virtual launching event on May 6. Limbourg presented the initiative “Transparency and media freedom — Crisis resilience in the global pandemic,” together with Norbert Barthle, Parliamentary State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

As a response to the pandemic, the BMZ is funding media development cooperation with an additional ten million euros. “People need to be well informed, especially in times of crisis,” Barthle said. This was not just during the pandemic, he said, “but also in the face of climate change, flight and refuge, and violent conflicts.” A crisis, he stressed, “cannot be managed without media.”

Dr. Sylvie Briand, a leading World Health Organization (WHO) expert on the infodemic, underlined the importance of people’s trust in the media. “Media have an incredible power and a great responsibility in dealing with information and emotion.” She added that an infodemic cannot be eliminated, “you have to manage it.”

Most of the additional funding will go to 16 new DW Akademie projects. Independent local and community media in Africa and Latin America, for example, will receive support in developing innovative information formats and viable business strategies. Additionally, with the establishment of information and communication networks, government, civil society and media actors will work together for the first time on crisis management and education.

DW Akademie is also working with its partners in the Middle East and Latin America to encourage young people to use media critically. “Media and information literacy (MIL) is essential for people to find their way in the digital age,” said Hania Bitar, Director of the Palestinian nongovernmental organization PYALARA. The focus there is on social networks. The “MIL goes viral” project is using messenger services to teach MIL. This way, vital information goes viral — and not misinformation and disinformation.

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Making Africa’s history tangible

© Comic Republic / DW

DW’s African Roots series portrays 50 personalities from African history. Narrated in African voices, they serve as the basis for audience debates in social media, on radio, or at historical sites.

The now-completed 50-part series of portraits of African historical figures is the centerpiece of the multimedia project, a collaboration between DW, the Gerda Henkel Foundation and the Nigerian animation company Comic Republic. The series personalizes the continent’s history and make it understandable. Together, the short stories create a comprehensive picture of Africa’s diverse history. The series is published in six languages and is aimed mainly at a young audience.

“DW cannot undo centuries of colonial historical interpretation in 50 portraits, but it can use its resources and honest cooperation to help convey the latest and most authentic scientific knowledge in a way that is appropriate for young people. Something like this has been missing from the African media landscape until now,” says Claus Stäcker, Director of Programs for Africa.

Dr. Michael Hanssler, Chair of the Gerda Henkel Foundation, which is funding the project, emphasizes that “it is essential to counter a distorted perception of African history.” African Roots seeks to accomplish this with the help of African authors and personalities who can speak for the history of their continent uniquely. He also points to the important role of the scientific advisory board. “The technical review of all content has also been carried out by researchers in Africa.”

The scientific advisory board consists of three renowned historians: Doulaye Konaté from Mali, Nigeria’s Christopher Ogbogbo, and Lily Mafela from Botswana. The project’s goal is to “meet the growing need to appreciate African history as an important part of human history,” says Mafela, dean of the education faculty at the University of Botswana.

The portraits will be distributed on DW programs and social media platforms and through some 300 radio and TV partners in Africa. In addition, they will be made available directly to educational institutions in Africa. Schools, universities, and libraries can share them with learners of all ages to help them understand their history.

dw.com/africanroots

dw_stories now on Instagram

© DW

With a focus on personal and encouraging stories from people around the world, dw_stories is already successful on Facebook. Dw_stories shows protagonists who are making a difference on both a very small and a large scale. Those portrayed range from powerful politicians such as the UN Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, to a young woman who escaped an attempted murder by her partner and is now fighting against femicide.

“The target audience of dw_stories is young, predominantly female and socially engaged. They are very interested in stories of people who change their own lives or the lives of others for the better,” says Anja Brockmann, Head of Stories and Analysis. “Our followers can share and discuss their own experiences on topics like equality and tolerance in society.” Other topics include freedom of expression, democracy and social participation.

The dw_stories account aims to encourage and entertain. As with the Facebook account of the same name, the community helps shape dw_stories and offers users a forum for constructive discussion, support and inspiration. The main target countries are the U.S. and India.

instagram.com/dw_stories