'If independent media work together, we can counter the flood of disinformation, propaganda and censorship'

Dear Reader,

Social issues, political crises and wars across the globe pose major challenges for media professionals and consumers alike. Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine; Israel's war against the terrorist organization Hamas following the terrorist attack against Israel in October 2023; the great suffering of Gaza’s civilian population; protests against Iran’s government and the armed conflicts in Sudan are just some examples.  

Moreover, authoritarian states are on the rise worldwide. For journalists, this means that their work is becoming even more important – and more dangerous. This is because authoritarian, technologically advanced states are increasingly using internet shutdowns, censorship and repression to block their populations from independent reporting. AI-supported disinformation and public opinion manipulation threaten to further polarize and destabilize societies.

However, if independent media work together, we can counter the flood of disinformation, propaganda and censorship. Independent journalism, after all, is the most effective way to do this. 

People around the world trust DW's fact-based journalism. Our goal is to enable them to make informed decisions. Despite the increasing restriction of broadcast channels in several countries, demand for our content grew to 320 million user contacts worldwide in 2023. 

Deutsche Welle’s DW Akademie is the leading media development organization in Germany. With its projects, we are committed to promoting freedom of the media and freedom of expression in nearly 70 developing and emerging countries worldwide.

Peter Limbourg  

Director General, Deutsche Welle