Media and Digital Culture

Journalism Connect

Fellowship Programme

In an era of disinformation and shifting newsroom priorities, Journalism Connect fosters dialogue between emerging journalists from South Asia and Germany on rebuilding trust in the media. Through networking, workshops, and collaborative knowledge-sharing, the fellowship explores challenges such as declining trust in traditional media, AI-driven content creation, and the rise of misinformation.

Header Journalism Connect Goethe-Institut Goethe-Institut

Projects

Beyond Bias

Generative AI shapes the tools of tomorrow, but it risks replicating today’s biases and inequities. Can we imagine a future where generative AI truly reflects the diversity of human experiences? By creating representative datasets and fine-tuning models, Beyond Bias paves the way for tools that are both culturally sensitive and technically innovative.

© Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan © Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan
Film

Streaming Recommendations

We have compiled a fantastic selection of German films and series for you to enjoy that are currently available in the media libraries of the public broadcasters and on various streaming services in Germany.

© Goethe-Institut / Tobias Schrank © Goethe-Institut / Tobias Schrank
Alternative Futures

The impact of digital media on civic engagement is a subject of debate. Alternative Futures aims to foster forward-looking discourse on digital platform design and governance, promoting collaboration between German and Indian civil society institutions and researchers for enhanced civic engagement.

© Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan © Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan
German Series in India

Binge Fever!

Television “Made in Germany” is having a golden moment with the rise of international streaming services. In this dossier, we highlight binge-worthy German serials and fill you in on where to watch them in India.

© Colourbox / Image editing Goethe-Institut Los Angeles © Colourbox / Image editing Goethe-Institut Los Angeles
DigiVerse. How To Read Media

DigiVerse. How to Read Media seeks to promote knowledge and tools on media literacy, critical thinking, and digital security. This online platform is dedicated to raise awareness about these topics by showcasing various activities and initiatives.

© Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan © Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan
The role of media and journalism

Between the Lines

Discover the many facets of media and journalism in India which have changed and developed dramatically over the last 25 years, as a result of digitization, economic boom & the evolving needs of a new, urban-oriented middle class.

© Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan © Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan
Chain Unchained

Chain Unchained is a regional initiative that brings together practitioners and experts from India and Germany from the arts and creative and technological industries. The project intends to take a closer look at the issues surrounding web3 and NFTs in order to better understand the opportunities, possibilities and risks involved.

© Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan / Nikhil Kaul © Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan / Nikhil Kaul
ReverseForward

ReverseForward was a GameLab that brought diverse people, skill sets, and perspectives together to discuss and critique the role of colonialism and its impact on contemporary societies. The key thematics of the lab were reimagining decolonial praxis in culture producers - both institutions and individuals, the role of play and narrative strategies, and social game design.

© Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan © Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan

Articles

ARD Series “Schwarze Früchte”

Lalo and the Art of Getting Lost

Lalo wants to be an artist, but mostly he stumbles through life – insecure, self-absorbed and never quite in control. “Schwarze Früchte” turns this messiness into sharp television: a story of queer identity, family ghosts and the awkward art of growing up, told with style, wit and a cast that embodies diversity.

Lalo (Lamin Leroy Gibba) and Joshua (Daniel Hernandez) looking at each other © ARD Degeto/Jünglinge Film/Studio Zentral/Maïscha Souaga © ARD Degeto/Jünglinge Film/Studio Zentral/Maïscha Souaga

AI and Art

Studio Ghibli style and the draining of meaning

What remains of art when AI imitates everything? An essay on Ghibli filters and the quiet erosion of cultural meaning in the age of generative machines.

Illustration: © Ricardo Roa Illustration: © Ricardo Roa
AI in newsrooms

Between a tool and a turning point

AI transcribes interviews, filters comments, improves phrasing – and in doing so, is quietly but fundamentally changing newsroom life. But to what extent? Gregor Schmalzried, journalist and host of Bayerischer Rundfunk’s AI Podcast, offers a behind-the-scenes look.

Illustration: © Ricardo Roa Illustration: © Ricardo Roa
Artificial Intelligence and Elections

It’s About Saving Democracy

Bogus audios imitating politicians’ voices, AI-augmented robo-calling or fictional TV anchors: artificial intelligence offers a magnitude of new ways to spread disinformation. In an era of global crises, it represents a genuine threat to democracy.

Photo (detail): © Adobe Photo (detail): © Adobe
AI in the Higher Education sector

When AI threatens knowledge

AI is Reshaping Knowledge: from how it changes students’ engagement and deep reading skills, to how Universities are accelerating the shift in favor of efficiency, there are deep implications on what place critical thinking and skepticism have in the creation of knowledge.

Illustration: © Ricardo Roa Illustration: © Ricardo Roa
AI and emotions

Artificial empathy

What happens to us and our psyche when we share our most intimate thoughts and feelings with AI companions? How is our understanding of relationships changing, and what impact is this having on society as a whole? In the following article, author Johannes Kuhn takes a closer look at these pressing questions.

Illustration: © Ricardo Roa Illustration: © Ricardo Roa