In 2026, under the title “Media, Power & Humanity” the Global Ethic Institute will examine how our media landscape has changed—and what that means for journalists, but also for our democracies and our interaction with one another.
In addition to economic and political changes, technological transformation is having a particularly strong impact on the conditions of public communication. Today, digital platforms structure not only information flows, but also social relationships, economic markets, and political decision-making processes. They influence what we know, who we believe, and how we engage with one another.
This puts the spotlight on issues that are central to the Global Ethic Institute: questions of truthfulness, dialogue, fairness, and responsibility. The media industry is not neutral: it is a power factor, a marketplace, and a co-creator of social interaction. When competition for attention and market share often makes reach more important than factual accuracy, and emotionalization is more effective than arguments, the question arises: Which responsibilities lie with media professionals? But also: Which responsibilities do we have in dealing with them?
Because part of the truth is that media professionals are under pressure—not only politically and socially, but increasingly also economically and digitally. Editors and journalists are struggling with dwindling business models, competition for digital attention, and platform logics that make their work both necessary and precarious. Daily newspapers in particular are feeling the effects of old sources of income drying up and new digital dependencies emerging. At the same time, the demands placed on journalists and the hostility they face have increased enormously. And often, the very basis of a shared truth or the possibility of striving for objectivity is called into question. How can this be dealt with?
Media, Power & Humanity is therefore not only about the professional ethics of different media professionals, but also about the business models of platforms, market logic, and regulatory frameworks. They are changing the communicative habits that shape our peaceful, democratic coexistence, constitute a culture of dialogue, and alter the perception of global opportunities and crises worldwide. At the same time, media change is not a purely European or North American phenomenon. The global North shapes technical standards and normative models, while authoritarian models in China and Russia form alternative publics. The annual theme invites us to reflect on these global dynamics in the light of global civic responsibility.
So how can media actors do business ethically – and in a globally responsible manner? We are expressly addressing this question to the media industry as a social actor and a crucial authority in conducting discussions about our values, our public trust, and our sustainable future.
Media in the field of tension between economy and society
The Global Ethic Institute understands media not only as a mirror of society, but also as a school of democratic habits and a decisive authority in negotiating our values, our trust, and our sustainability. We focus on three central dimensions of public communication:
Media & power
How we do business directly influences how we interact with each other in a democratic fashion. For the interaction between platform economics and public life, this means: How do media shape political opinion, social moods, and economic interests? What role do algorithms, platform monopolies, and new forms of influence play—for example, through deepfakes or AI-generated content?
Media & Humanity
Our habits of attention, judgement and interaction with one another are changing: How does digital communication affect our ability to empathise, listen and change perspectives? How can media create spaces for dialogue and promote a culture of truthful debate instead of polarisation and alienation?
Media & Responsibility
Individual, professional, and institutional responsibility need a new balance. What does responsible communication mean in an age of sensory overload, disinformation, and filter bubbles? Do we need stricter regulations for large platform operators—especially with regard to younger generations and social cohesion? And what do we expect from private and public providers in the media market?
We would like to extend a warm invitation to you …
to join us in learning more about these topics with knowledgeable experts at our discussion and educational events throughout the coming year. We are already looking forward to embarking on this learning journey with you in 2026!
