Public media strengthen dialogue: ARD and ABC in the public spaces incubator

A new star in the sky of the digital dialogue! With an exciting announcement, ZDF and ARD bring fresh wind into the international research project "Public Spaces Incubator". Around a year and a half after the start of this pioneering project, where media giants from Canada, Belgium and Switzerland are already working together, the two heavyweights ARD and Australian ABC are now entering the ring. And that's not just a simple accession. It is a powerful impulse for the initiative that aims to develop solutions for fair and transparent communication on the Internet!

The highlight of the PBI conference in Ottawa: ZDF director Norbert Himmler shines with joy! "With ARD and ABC at our side we experience a milestone," he cheered, emphasizing the crucial cooperation that works towards a common goal. The next two years until spring 2027 promise exciting developments and innovative tools that should ultimately help to promote respectful and constructive dialogues on digital platforms.

master the challenges of the digital world

"We are flooded with a flood of information every day, and it is often difficult to distinguish between facts and fakes," ARD chairman Kai Gniffke describes the pressing problems of our time. In a age of fake news and misleading content, the trust of the users is more important than ever. "That is why the exchange with our viewers is essential," he adds, while focusing on transparent communication and responsible content.

As part of the "Public Spaces Incubator", the partners do their best to further develop websites, apps and digital platforms so that they can better reach and address the public. The first prototypes were already presented in May and the team plans to start the first tests in spring 2025. An exciting process in which users are actively involved to ensure that the solutions are actually in line with the needs of people!

Who are the new partners?

The "Australian Broadcasting Corporation" (ABC), a national broadcaster from Australia, has the aim of providing free news and information for all age groups. The ARD, which is made up of nine public service broadcasters in Germany, has the goal of providing people with diverse cultural and visual content. Together with partners such as CBC/Radio-Canada from Canada and RTBF from Belgium, the creation of better digital rooms is being worked on to give the interactions between the transmitter and the audience new dimensions.

The media landscape is facing an exciting transformation. With the concentrated power of these public law actors, the vision of a respectful and constructive dialogue online becomes a tangible reality. Stay tuned because it will be exciting!