The German Media - Guarantor of Democracy? - Die deutsche Medienlandschaft - Garant der Demokratie?

For democracy to survive, independent media are indispensable, a kind of fourth power. Freedom of the press, freedom of opinion and speech – until unification in 1990 both German states, the BRD and the DDR, interpreted and administered freedom in different ways. How much freedom, how much openness does democracy need? And how much influence should government be allowed to exercise, especially in the face of terrorism and violence? The seminar offers a survey of the German press and mass media in recent German history. (1 Unit)