“Especially in an election year, a project like Your Choice. Our Denmark is crucial, because we need to get people to the ballot boxes. I can hardly think of anything more important”

Danni Paulsen, journalist at Lokalavisen Aarhus Onsdag

That’s how local journalist Danni Paulsen describes it. He is one of the 317 participants who joined one of our eight Your Choice. Our Denmark media workshops. Along the way we visited Holstebro, Odense, Copenhagen, Rønne, Aabybro, Aarhus, Vordingborg, and yesterday we wrapped up in Kolding.

Paulsen, who works for Lokalavisen Aarhus Onsdag, found the workshop both rewarding and well-structured. As a local journalist, he highlights one particular aspect that excites him:

“I’m a bit of a data nerd, so I must say I’m really drawn to this massive survey conducted by Epinion. Especially because I come from a small media outlet and we don’t have the resources to run polls like that ourselves. But it’s extremely important for us to know what matters to our readers,”

Danni Paulsen, journalist at Lokalavisen Aarhus Onsdag

Many journalists are already stretched thin in their newsrooms, which makes it even more impressive that 45 local media outlets chose to prioritize sending reporters to the workshops—investing time in filling their “election backpacks” with valuable insights. The same goes for the communicators from municipalities and regions who also took part.

Part of Something Bigger

The eight media workshops are part of the national partnership Your Choice. Our Denmark, in which local media outlets, foundations, journalism schools, the University of Southern Denmark, Aarhus University, Statistics Denmark, and Epinion are joining forces to strengthen local democracy.

The initiative is spearheaded by the independent Constructive Institute at Aarhus University, aiming to support communities, increase voter turnout, and enrich public debate in a world where distrust and news fatigue are on the rise and polarization threatens to become the next pandemic.

In addition to the journalist workshops, the project includes a large-scale Epinion survey, academic research, the development of new media formats, election festivals for the public, and workshops for municipal and regional politicians.

A warm thanks to the foundations supporting the Your Choice. Our Denmark partnership: VELUX FONDEN, TrygFonden, Tuborgfondet, Jyllandspostens Fond, KL, and the Danish Regions.

Contact the project partners:

 

• Ane Hendriksen, CEO, VELUX FONDEN: +45 40 60 39 38
• Rie Odsbjerg Werner, CEO, TrygFonden: +45 45 26 08 30
• Alex Nielsen, CEO, Mediehusene Midtjylland: +45 40 32 83 33
• Ulrik Haagerup, CEO & Founder, Constructive Institute: +45 60 13 86 00
• Esben Seerup, Project Director, Constructive Institute: +45 24 79 50 90