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4th Global Constructive Journalism Conference

It’s time we began to “Listen Louder”

As polarization becomes the next pandemic, journalists need to listen louder. Listen to the audience, asking us to provide truth and understanding. Listen to best practices of innovative journalists, rethinking the role of news reporting at a time of eroding trust in democracy, media and politics.

Join us for free and help us find the answers to questions such as:

  • How can journalists be moderators of the public conversation?
  • What can journalism learn from other professions: the marriage counsellor, the hostage negotiator and the psychology professor?
  • How can we create dialogue in a room of conflict, and not dig ditches deeper?
  • How do we cover war and conflict constructively?
  • How can news media combat climate fatigue?

… and much more!


Your Host – Wanjiku Mwaura
A Wealth of Knowledge

Wanjiku is a Kenyan journalist, based in Germany. She is one of the hosts of the AfricaLink radio program and is also a presenter on DW Africa’s 77 Percent YouTube channel, created for the 77 percent of Africans that are younger than 35.

Constructive Champion

She brings with her the experience of co-creating, co-authoring AND hosting Deutsche Welle’s WhatElse — a pan-African online program which presents constructive African stories on an international platform.

Tuesday June 21st

18:30 – 21.00 – DRINKS RECEPTION

A welcome drinks for participants of the conference. Address: “THE 9th” (Sandkaule 9-11, 53111 Bonn)

Please register here: welcome@bonn-institute.org (limited availability, first come first serve)

CONFERENCE PROGRAM

Wednesday June 22nd

8.00 – ARRIVALS – Coffee and set up

Doors open at  in the lobby of the LVR-Landes Museum Bonn. Coffee and pastries to start the day!

9.00 – WELCOME – Why are we here?

CEO of the Bonn Institute, Ellen Heinrichs and CEO of Constructive Institute, Ulrik Haagerup, open the conference.

9.15 – OPENING KEYNOTE – The Nobel Peace Center. Why stories about hope create peace and fight war

This year the Nobel Peace Prize went to two journalists whose work “is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace”. We will learn about the role of journalists in promoting peace rather than conflict and also the central importance of listening to one another.

The Nobel Peace Center stresses dialogue as a key ingredient for peaceful societies, they have explored this in their book inspired by Nobel laureates, “Those Who Listen Change The World”.  In the words of Nelson Mandela “The best weapon is to sit down and talk”.

Speakers
Ingvill Bryn Rambøl, Head of Information, the Nobel Peace Center
9.30 – PANEL – How to cover war and conflict constructively

When covering a severe conflict such as the war in Ukraine does it make sense to talk about constructive journalism? Is there space for nuance in such a scenario? Should we just use journalism to talk about horror or do we also need to talk about hope?

Moderator
Wanjiku Mwaura, Multimedia journalist, Deutsche Welle

Speakers
Nathalya Gumenyuk, Journalist & Co-founding director, Public Interest Journalism Lab
Mads Nissen, Photographer & World Press Photo 2021 Winner
Matilde Kimer, Russia and Ukraine Correspondent, Danish Broadcasting Corporation

10.15 – PANEL – Beyond Climate Fatigue

The changing climate is one of the biggest stories of our time but journalists have struggled to convey an issue with such a gradual impact and whose consequences lie in tomorrow. Some journalism outlets seek to show the climate as “crisis “, however this may exacerbate climate anxiety and lead to disengagement. How can journalists over come climate fatigue and cover climate change more constructively?

Moderator
Cynara Vetch, Project Lead International, Constructive Institute

Speakers
Wolfgang Blau, Co-Founder of Oxford Climate Journalism Network
Ajit Niranjan, Climate Reporter, Deutsche Welle
Natasha Kimani,
Charlotte Horn, NDR Info Constructive Team, NDR

 

Coffee Break

11.15 – INSIGHT SESSION – 2022 Reuters Digital News Report

The 2022 Reuters Digital News Report is just out! We will hear about some key research findings. What are the reasons for “selective news avoidance”? How are news organisations attempting counter this? Why are there growing efforts to offer news audiences a sense of hope or personal agency with their coverage?

Speaker
Nic Newman, Senior Research Associate, Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, Oxford University

11.30 – PANEL – Listen Louder. How can news media be moderators of the public conversation?

With our Explorer project Constructive Institute has invited leading editors and journalists in Europe to explore innovative ways for journalists to become constructive-conversation leaders in times of rising polarisation. News media need to find new formats for public conversation, new questions, new frame settings. We explore some of these ideas in this panel.

Moderator
Ewen MacAskill, Investigative Journalist and Pulitzer Prize Winner for the Guardian

Speakers
Peter Lindner, Journalist and former Deputy Editor-in-Chief at Süddeutsche Zeitung
Anne Katrine Førli, Debate editor at NRK, Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation 

Breakout Sessions

12.15 – BREAKOUT SESSION – Learning from other professions: How to develop constructive dialogue and build bridges.

It is a new role for journalists to act as facilitators of constructive democratic conversation. What can reporters learn from other professions? What skills and experience do a hostage negotiator and a marriage counsellor have that can help journalists promote calm and curious conversation?

Moderator
Ulrik Haagerup, CEO, Constructive Institute

Speakers
Mikkel Gudsøe, Legal Mediator, CEO and Owner GUDSØE ApS
Christian Erfurt, Co-founder, Be My Eyes

 

12.15 – BREAKOUT SESSION – The power of constructive journalism for local reporting

There is growing awareness that local new matters. Local reporting encourages political participation and caters to the needs of communities outside of metropolitan centres. How can local journalists ensure that their vital work benefits the news audiences they serve? Led by insights from the Bonn Institute join a conversation about constructive local reporting.

Moderator 
Lisa Urlbauer, Journalism Training Coordinator, Bonn Institute
Speakers
Marcus Melinder, Managing Editor at SVT Nyheter Norrbotten, Swedish Television 
Rhiannon Davies,

Lunch Break

13.45 – PANEL – Going beyond the attention economy. What are the incentive structures for quality news content?

The internet has been built on the attention economy, your time is money. Often audiences attention has been captured by shocking and sensational content, virality is not necessarily a marker of quality. What financial incentive structures are there for content which informs users and builds bridges rather than divides? What can tech giants and marketing corporations do to promote journalism which serves society?

Moderator
Ulrik Haagerup, CEO, Constructive Institute

Speakers
John Severinson, Head of Partner Development, Meta
Madhav Chinappa, Director of News Ecosystem Development, Google
Justyna Kurczabinska, Senior Manager of News Strategy & Development, EBU
Konstantinos Papadatos Fragkos, Senior Consultant Quality & Brand Safety, Group M

 

14.30 – INSIGHT SESSION – Nuanced political coverage for Kenya

Kenyan political reporting has been described as “gladiatorial” with the country’s coverage focused on personalities and conflict rather than policies and paths to a better future. Innovative news media start up Debunk Media tried to do something different. We learn about their #PresidentialSeries where they took a thoughtful and nuanced approach to featuring Kenya’s presidential candidates.

Speaker
Isaac Amuke, Writer and Journalist, Debunk Media
14.45 – PANEL – Why constructive journalism is being adopted by journalism leaders as an editorial strategy

We hear why Editors across Europe are implementing constructive journalism as a a pillar of their organizations’ editorial agenda.

Moderator
Alexandra Borchardt, Head of Journalism Innovators Program, Hamburg Media School

Speakers
Tinatin Bredzenishvili, General Director of Georgian Public Broadcaster
Debarati Guha, Head of Asia Department, DW
Jeremy Griffin, Executive Editor, The Times
Esben Seerup, CEO, TV2 Fyn
15.30 – INSIGHT SESSION – Lessons from Indonesia

Magdalene is a feminist news media in Indonesia, an increasingly conservative and patriarchal country. We hear how their newsroom took on the controversial topic of sexual education including religious leaders, parents and teachers in the conversation.

Speakers
Devi Asmarani, Editor-in-Chief and Co-founder of the Indonesian women-focused webmagazine Magdalene

Coffee & Breakout Sessions

15.45 – BREAKOUT SESSION – Workshop on moderation with the Constructive Institute "Explorers"

Journalists from Constructive Institute’s Explorer project unpack the lessons they have learnt. Practical advice and tools for journalists who wish to facilitate conversation across divisive issues.

Moderator 
Kurt Strand, Journalist and Fellow at Constructive Institute
Speakers
Ewen MacAskill, Investigative Journalist and Pulitzer Prize Winner for the Guardian
Peter Lindner, Journalist and former Deputy Editor-in-Chief at Süddeutsche Zeitung
Anne Katrine Førli, Debate editor at NRK, Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation 
Nadia Nikolajeva, Digital Advisor and Trainer, Navi Media
Kenneth Lund, Journalist at Politiken and Fellow at Constructive Institute
15.45 – BREAKOUT SESSION – Constructive visual journalism: New ideas for the next era of photography documentary

If you were to understand the world through photojournalism, you would most likely conclude that the human race is only about war, abuse, famine, and other atrocities.  Is there a way to move beyond the shock and awe to incorporate nuance and complexity? Can we cover conflict and suffering differently? In this discussion photojournalists will unpack new constructive frames for the world.

Moderator
Bjarke Calvin, Former Executive Editor of Magnum Photos, Entrepreneur & Fellow at Constructive Institute

Speakers
Nilofar Niekpor Zamani, Freelance Photographer
Daniel Rye, Freelance Photographer and Lecturer 

 

Now What and How?

16.30 – PANEL – Breaking the toxic circle of Media and Politics

This panel will look at the impact of a journalistic focus on politics and politicians. We will discuss how an emphasis on aggressive pundits and sensational sound bites cripples political conversation, handing the microphone only to loudest and most shocking and drowning out thoughtful analysis. Looking at three new innovative formats of political programming from Northern Europe, we explore how we can escape this toxic cycle and find new ways forward.

Moderator
Ulrik Haagerup, CEO, Constructive Institute

Speakers
Aya Ibrahim, Media Trainer and TV & Social Media Reporter, DW News 
Lasse Hørbye, Editorial Director, TV2 Fyn
Anne Katrine Førli, Debate Editor, Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation 
Hanna Israel, Head of My Country Talks, ZEIT ONLINE

 

17.15 – PRIZE – The Future of Journalism Award. Awarded by Bonn Institute, SJN and Constructive Institute

Annual prize for innovative constructive journalism reporting. At a time of increased polarization and ongoing conflicts, our organizations join forces to award the best examples of constructive and solution focused reporting rooted in conflict  – which can be global, national, or local based. We look for reporting with a wide range of formats where journalism has shown its capacity of serving excluded communities, including a broad diversity of perspectives, embracing nuances and complexity of a divisive issue, but also bringing agency, hope and dialogue by reporting on responses to the issue and engaging the public in a conversation on potential solutions.

17.30 – WRAP UP – Charting a path forward

The moderator and host summarise the day and chart a path forward.

Speakers
Wanjiku Mwaura, Multimedia journalist, Deutsche Welle
Ulrik Haagerup, CEO & Founder, Constructive Institute

Drinks Reception

18.00 – DRINKS – Networking and nibbles

Participants invited for a farewell drinks and conversation at the Landesmuseum.


CONFERENCE SPEAKERS

The conference will bring together key players with the potential to impact the future of journalism from all over the world.

Amongst others we will be hearing from …

DEVI ASMARANI

Editor-in-Chief and co-founder of Indonesian women-focused webmagazine Magdalene

WOLFGANG BLAU

Co-Founder of Oxford Climate Journalism Network. Former Global Chief Operating Officer and President International, Condé Nast

NATASHA KIMANI

MATILDE KIMER

Russia and CIS-Correspondent, Danish Broadcasting Corporation 

CHARLOTTE HORN

Reporter, NDR – North German Broadcasting/ Public Radio

MADS NISSEN

Photojournalist & 2021 Winner of the World Press Photo Award

NILOFAR NIEKPOR ZAMANI

Freelance Photographer

JUSTYNA KURCZABINSKA

Senior Manager of News Strategy & Development, EBU

 

RHIANNON J DAVIES

CHRISTIAN ERFURT

Co-founder & Chief Evangelist, Be My Eyes

 

ISAAC OTIDI AMUKE

Writer and Journalist, Debunk Media

NADIA NIKOLAJEVA

Digital Advisor and Trainer, Navi Media

DANIEL RYE

Freelance Photographer and Lecturer

AYA IBRAHIM

Media Trainer and TV & Social Media Reporter, DW News

ULRIK HAAGERUP

CEO & Founder, Constructive Institute 

JOHN SEVERINSON

Head of Partner Development, Meta

 

NIC NEWMAN

EWEN MACASKILL

Investigative Journalist and Pulitzer Prize Winner for the Guardian. 

TINA BREDZENISHVILI

General Director of Georgian Public Broadcaster 

ANNE KATRINE FØRLI

Debate editor at NRK, Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation

KONSTANTINOS PAPADATOS FRAGKOS

Brand Safety & Senior Consultant Quality, GroupM Germany

 

ELLEN HEINRICHS

CEO & Founder, Bonn Institute

MADHAV CHINNAPPA

Director of News Ecosystem Development, Google 

PETER LINDNER

Journalist and former Deputy Editor-in-Chief at Süddeutsche Zeitung

NATALIYA GUMENYUK

Kyiv-based journalist and founder of Public Interest Journalism Lab

INGVILL BRYN RAMBØL

Head of Information at the Nobel Peace Center, Oslo

AJIT NIRANJAN

Climate Reporter, Freelance & Deutsche Welle

DEBARATI GUHA

Head of Asia Department, DW

ESBEN SEERUP

CEO, TV2 Fyn, Denmark

 

 

LASSE HØRBYE

Editorial Director, TV2 Fyn, Denmark 

MARCUS MELINDER

Managing Editor at SVT Nyheter Norrbotten, Swedish Television 

 

HANNA ISRAEL

Head of My Country Talks, ZEIT ONLINE

 

JEREMY GRIFFIN 

Executive Editor, The Times

LISA URLBAUER

Journalism Training Coordinator, Bonn Institute

ALEXANDRA BORCHARDT

Journalist, Leadership Professor and Senior Research Associate, Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, University of Oxford

CYNARA VETCH

Project Lead, Constructive Institute

MIKKEL GUDSØE

Legal Negotiator, CEO and Owner GUDSØE ApS

 


Need more reasons to join?

DRINKS RECEPTION THE EVENING BEFORE AT THE ROOFTOP OF THE BONN INSTITUTE FOR SPECIAL INVITES

MEET BRILLIANT JOURNALISTIC PROFESSIONALS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD

 

June 22, 2022 Bonn, Germany
Historical Venue

The historic and modern LVR Landesmuseum in the former capital in the Cold War era, Bonn, is the unique center for a day of provocation of the status quo.

Public Conversation

Together we will share knowledge and impactful ideas to make journalism more sustainable, meaningful, inspirational, nuanced, engaging.

Location and Arrival

LVR-Landesmuseum
Colmantstraße 14-16,
53115 Bonn
Germany


Future of Journalism Global Award 2022

Help us find the best constructive and solutions journalism story on a conflict. In other words: Who deserves the Global Future of Journalism Award 2022? As part of the conference, Constructive Institute will present this year’s winner of the Future of Journalism Global Award together with the Bonn Institute and Solutions Journalism Network.

At a time of increased polarization and ongoing conflicts, our organizations join forces to award the best examples of constructive and solution focused reporting rooted in conflict  – which can be global, national, or local based. We look for reporting with a wide range of formats where journalism has shown its capacity of serving excluded communities, including a broad diversity of perspectives, embracing nuances and complexity of a divisive issue, but also bringing agency, hope and dialogue by reporting on responses to the issue and engaging the public in a conversation on potential solutions. 


Conference Partners