How do people get their information today? Who avoids the news, and why? What communication logics determine analog and digital media? As part of this year’s Hamburg Week of Press Freedom, the HBI addressed these questions and organized two public discussion evenings with DJV Nord. During these discussions, the HBI’s research findings were contrasted with the practical experiences of journalists.
News Consumption between Routine and Avoidance
Who consumes news routinely, who avoids it, and why? What does this mean for journalistic editorial offices? Dr. Leonie Alatassi and Julia Behre discussed these questions with Hamburg journalists in the TV studio of TIDE Hamburg, the city’s community and educational channel.
The discussion was recorded (link to follow). News journalist Dr. Martin Wilhelmi moderated the discussion.
Leonie Alatassi highlighted the heterogeneity of information channels, even within young age groups, as well as the changing orientation patterns, routines, and news literacy. Based on data from the Reuters Digital News Report, Julia Behre emphasized that consciously avoiding news can be a form of self-protection from ongoing crises, excessive demands, and exhaustion. At the same time, many people expressed a desire for more positive, solution-oriented stories.
From a practical media perspective, Maik Koltermann, editor-in-chief of the Hamburger Morgenpost, and Julia Weigelt, a security policy specialist journalist, described the challenges facing editorial offices. Koltermann emphasized the importance of direct dialogue with readers, no matter how emotional or controversial it may be. Julia Weigelt advocated for constructive journalism and more empathy as a means of making complex topics understandable and accessible.
Pictures of the event can be found on the website of co-organizer DJV Nord.
Journalism, Influencing, Lies: The Rules of (Dis)Information
The second event of Hamburg’s Press Freedom Week addressed questions such as how reliable information is created, how public discourse is shaped, and the differences between journalism and influence.
The event at the Barmbek Library offered insight into the process by which information is created amid the tension between traditional journalistic standards and the communication logic of digital platforms. Stefan Endter, managing director of DJV Nord, moderated the discussion.
Anna von Garmissen illustrated how economic, political, and digital changes are shaping the daily lives of many journalists by presenting the findings of the DFG project, “Journalism under Duress.” At the same time, journalists view their primary role as the neutral communication of reliable information. This includes presenting information in a way that empowers people to form their own opinions and combat disinformation. Considering the difference between journalism and influencing, von Garmissen emphasized that the focus should be on how people can be reached with news content rather than on the distribution channels.
Jan Rau highlighted the dynamics of digital public spheres and emphasized the urgent need to regulate social platforms more thoroughly. The Digital Services Act, in effect throughout the EU since February 2024, provides a legal framework for this; however, enforcement of the new rules remains slow.
Journalist and NDR presenter André Schünke and Tagesschau social media editor Rieke Smit reported on their experiences in journalism. André Schünke discussed the increasing importance of media education in the context of fake news and AI-generated content, emphasizing the need to encourage healthy skepticism among young media consumers. Rieke Smit emphasized that media literacy programs should target not only young people, but older people as well, as they also need to improve their ability to recognize disinformation and fake news. She explained that she combines traditional journalistic methods with the functional logic of social media platforms in her work. She considers both the diversity of sources and perspectives and her self-image as an independent reporter relevant, as well as the realization that social media videos often only have a few seconds to grab attention. These seconds can certainly be designed to be emotional. According to Rieke Smit, influencers and journalists could learn a lot from each other in this respect.
Pictures of the discussion can be found on the website of the co-organizer, DJV Nord.
About the Action Week
The HBI has been a network partner of Hamburg’s Press Freedom Week since 2025. The Action Week is an initiative of the Körber Foundation and the ZEIT STIFTUNG BUCERIUS. About 60 events on press freedom, media literacy, and disinformation were held during the week of November 2–8 this year.
Photo: Stephan Wallocha; from left to right: Stefan Endter, André Schünke, Anna von Garmissen, Rieke Smit, and Jan Rau.