Research question: How can audio formats be used to raise awareness of the dangers of disinformation and anti-Semitism?

Many internet users do not rely on journalistically verified or scientifically sound sources to form their opinions, but instead obtain information from social media, messenger services, blogs, and so-called “alternative media.” Some of these outlets deliberately rely on simplified narratives that reduce complex issues to easily consumable, dichotomous stories (e.g., good versus evil, the people versus the elite). Anti-Semitic stereotypes play a central ideological and functional role in digital roundtable discussions and in the context of digital disinformation. They are not only part of many disinformation narratives, but also function as connecting patterns of interpretation that seemingly explain complex social problems in a simple way, construct enemy stereotypes, and channel collective emotions such as fear, anger, or mistrust.

In this course, participants will learn the basics of teaching students how to independently develop content using creative audio-media forms of expression. The goal is to strengthen media and source literacy, raise awareness of hate speech and conspiracy narratives, and encourage engagement with complex content through self-conducted interviews with experts.
As part of the course, we will create a podcast and learn the basic skills of audio work—from researching, conducting, and recording interviews to writing audio texts and editing and mixing a contribution.

Regular attendance (80%), active participation, and the creation of an audio piece for the podcast, either individually or in groups, are required for successful completion of the seminar.