The Fact Checkers

Denizens of the public digital sphere must possess an especially critical awareness of the media in order to reveal manipulative and unsubstantiated information. The spread of antidemocratic content, e.g. via social media, is a phenomenon which many are currently observing in Thuringia. Consequently, this project would like to sensitise children, adolescents, their parents and other adults to the mechanisms of the media and how it shapes public opinion. The aim is to enable the participants to utilise media and engage in the democratic process in a more reflective manner.

A peer-to-peer programme for media mentors trains interested citizens to become experts with critical media competence and enables them to expose fake news. The Erfurt municipal and branch libraries invite citizens to participate in future workshops and public events, e.g. featuring hands-on media work, film screenings and investigative seminars with external experts. In cooperation with the Thuringian State Film Service and with support from other institutions like the University of Erfurt and local media organisations, the municipal and regional library in Erfurt has established a sustainable competence-based network for critical media education and a democratic culture of discourse.

Project title: The Fact Checkers. Strengthening Democratic Urban Society by Shaping Critical Public Opinion

Partner: Landesfilmdienst Thüringen e.V.