The Symposium, organized by the Forum Media and Development (fome) network in partnership with DW Akademie and Fondation Hirondelle, once again brought together media development practitioners, humanitarian actors, journalists, academics, and civil society representatives to reflect on the state of public-interest media and information ecosystems worldwide.
This year, the event took place in Bonn, Germany, alongside the CDAC Network’s Public Forum on “Information in Crisis.” The symposium’s central theme, “Beyond Dependency: Rethinking Support for Public-Interest Media,” focused on questioning traditional funding models to explore innovative ways to sustain and strengthen independent media, particularly in contexts where resources are scarce and freedom of speech is shrinking.
Across two days of panels, deep-dives, and a gallery walk, participants engaged with pressing topics such as diversification of revenue streams, the need for reliable information in humanitarian response, and the challenges posed by digital transformation and trust deficits.
Experts shared practical examples from their regional and local settings, highlighting that reliable and trustworthy information is as crucial in humanitarian aid as shelter and food. Thereby bridging the gap between fields that share far more in common than is usually perceived.
The reflections shared throughout the event underscored the value of collaboration between the media development and humanitarian sectors, and attendees left with renewed motivation to, among other priorities, foster resilient, community-centered information ecosystems to address information integrity challenges.
One insight that cut across many projects and discussions is the connection between trust and the strengthening of local voices - through community radio, the involvement of refugees in migration reporting, and journalistic exchange programs that amplify local perspectives. To truly cut through the noise, you need to touch base with local actors.
A particularly emotional moment of the symposium was the warm farewell to Sofie Jannusch, fome Coordinator and one of the network’s initiators 20 years ago, alongside CAMECO deputy director Christoph Dietz. Colleagues and participants celebrated her decades of commitment to independent media and development, highlighting her pivotal role in shaping fome’s vision and impact.
As the symposium concluded, participants were encouraged to translate insights into action in order to continue serving their communities in times of crisis and beyond.
