Hurray, the weekend – and with it more time to listen and watch! In our weekend edition we present you with a selection of recommended films and podcasts with a media focus. Have fun gaining knowledge and being entertained!
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1. Young, viral, right-wing radical?
(ardmediathek.de, Nadja Baschek & Michael Trammer, Video: 29:56 minutes)
The “Y-Kollektiv” reporting team led by Nadja Baschek and Michael Trammer have spent months researching how right-wing extremist influencers use social media to spread right-wing extremist ideologies and influence young people. Baschek and Trammer found that these influencers often post harmless content to gain trust, but ultimately spread false information and subtle propaganda: “How do these influencers use their influence as women in a targeted manner? How do they earn money? And is there a connection to the planned influencer agency that was presented at the right-wing ‘secret plan’ meeting in Potsdam?”
2. War of images – the Middle East conflict on social media
(youtube.com, Christoph Koopmann, Video: 1:34:20 hours)
In his talk, Christoph Koopmann, editor at the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, talks about the role of social media in the current Middle East conflict. The focus is on how social media is used for propaganda, disinformation and emotional mobilization. Koopmann explains how various actors, including Hamas and pro-Palestinian influencers, use platforms to spread their narratives and influence public opinion. He also sheds light on the challenges and risks of this new form of warfare.
3. What effect does the arrest of the Telegram boss have?
(uebermedien.de, Holger Klein, Audio: 32:14 minutes)
Holger Klein spoke to Anna Biselli, co-editor-in-chief of netzpolitik.org, about the arrest of Telegram boss Pavel Durov, who has since been released on bail of millions of euros. What collateral damage does Biselli see for other encrypted services following Durov’s arrest? And what options are there to take action against the messenger and the content shared there?
4. YouTube has a problem
(youtube.com, Mats Schönauer, Video: 19:05 minutes)
Mats Schönauer reports on the spread of disinformation, conspiracy myths and hate content by some YouTubers, who thereby achieve a large reach on the platform and high revenues. He criticizes the fact that YouTube often does nothing despite this problematic content and even after receiving reports, while critical videos like his own are demonetized.
5. Journalism as a profession – inspiring young people
(spotify.com, Christian Jakubetz, Audio: 21:42 and 16:71 minutes)
In the podcast “Satzzeichen”, Christian Jakubetz speaks with Magdi Aboul-Kheir, the chief reporter and training editor of the “Südwest Presse”, about the challenges and changes in the recruitment and training of young journalists. The first part of the conversation, linked above, is about the changed application processes and strategies to inspire young talents to do an internship. In the second part Aboul-Kheir and Jakubetz discuss young people’s current expectations of journalism, the influence of personal worldviews and the issue of fair pay in training.
6. THIS is the BIGGEST musical fraud I’ve EVER seen.
(youtube.com, Fil Henley, Video: 31:34 minutes, English)
This English-language video (German subtitles available) is about a scam trend on YouTube, where users Greenscreen into well-known television shows such as “America’s Got Talent” and thus create the impression that they are on stage and singing songs. Not only are the videos manipulated, but revenue from advertising and copyright fees is also diverted. British musician Fil Henley uncovers some of these cases and explains how these fraudulent practices work and what legal consequences they could have.