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Listen Louder: How to Counter Polarization

Polarization is an increasing danger both to freedom of the press and to democracy. The Listen Louder project brought together a group of international journalists to examine how the media contributes to polarization — and how journalists can help reduce it.

These Explorers created a series of best practices, tools and recommendations, and presented their findings at the annual global constructive journalism conference in Bonn, Germany, in June 2022.

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Why we launched the project

Journalists facilitate communication between experts, decision-makers and citizens, with the news media serving as a filter between reality and the public perception of reality. But unfortunately, the public debate often favors the loudest voices and those with the most “likes” — and the absence of rigorous moderation can to lead to polarization, apathy and a decline in trust. This issue is extreme in the U.S., but there is little room for complacency in Europe and elsewhere in the world.

In a debate setting with politicians and the public, the news media traditionally finds inspiration in warfare. These debates — the word coming from the French débattre, meaning fighting — are given aggressive titles such as “Duel,” “Crossfire” or “Fight Night.” Going forward, the news media must identify new frames and formats that instead focus on important issues in society that draw on inspiring ideas, best practices around the world, moderated dialogue and facts.


About Listen Louder

Meet the Explorers

The Explorers

We brought together a group of international journalists (the Explorers) to examine the media’s role in furthering polarization. As part of the Constructive Institute’s wider fellowship network, the Explorers had lessons on constructive journalism and visited media groups, parliaments, NGOs and businesses in different cities, from Oslo to Nairobi.

“Listen Louder” Booklet

The Explorers produced the “Listen Louder” booklet, which highlights more than a dozen examples from around the world — including Japan, Germany, Israel and Norway — of innovative ways in which journalists are trying to reduce polarization. It also make recommendations for journalists who want to better moderate political debates and engage the public.

Download the report

Research

We commissioned the analytics company Epinion to study news and the public debate in Denmark, the United Kingdom and Germany. It identified a widespread belief that the news is biased towards negativity and dominated by extreme opinions.

Check out our other research here.

Catch up on the Listen Louder conference

Conference

The Constructive Institute presented the Listen Louder project at the annual global constructive journalism conference in Bonn on June 22, 2022. The Explorers also participated in the Global Medium Forum conference in Bonn in the preceding days.

Hear from the Explorers

“Journalists are needed as moderators of public conversation. In this way they can contribute to social cohesion and help strengthen democracy. Constructive dialogue is a fundamental condition of democracy.”
Peter Lindner, former editor at Süddeutsche Zeitung

“How we can bring people together in a way where it’s okay that you disagree? It is important for our democracy to have conversations and debates with the purpose of learning more about other’s views. Younger generations don’t like the way we, the grown-ups, do debates. Let’s bring them in and do it their way — the young way!”
Anne Katrine Førli, debate editor at NRK

“The journalism model we have now is partly broken. The old ways of doing journalism don’t work anymore, we need to look at journalism in a different way. The truth is in the middle.”
Ewen MacAskill, former journalist at The Guardian
 

Constructive Institute Explorer and former Guardian journalist Ewen MacAskill shares how the news media can better moderate public debates.


The Listen Louder Project is supported by: