Editorial: DW Akademie promoting digital action

Dear readers,

Our central strategy focus in 2016 is to increasingly turn digital thinking in all areas of DW Akademie into digital action.

DW Akademie has long been on the digital road, developing and conducting training workshops for mobile reporting in Namibia, facilitating e-learning for Ukrainian journalists and setting up the Libyan Cloud News Agency in 2015. These are just a few examples of our innovative projects.

This year we are aiming to speed up digital transformation with a new digital strategy that takes into account all aspects of media development. It includes looking at the qualifications and skills people need in a digital world; adjustments required for regulatory frameworks to accommodate the changing realities of digital communication; the implications of social participation in the digital era, and ways to promote economic, environmental and social developments.

Global exchange of ideas via digital media

The right of public access to information is part of the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted in 2015 and to be reached by 2030.

We want to go even further. For this, we refer to Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which not only defends free access to information but also people's right to freely express opinions and to share information through any media, regardless of borders.

Digital media, and particularly social media, are enabling people throughout the world to share their thoughts and opinions; ordinary citizens in numerous countries can now take part in many areas of society. These opportunities must be available to everyone. That is why our vision is to have a human right for participation in digital communication!

Our digital strategy aims to help pave the way for a brighter digital future. Just like the digital media systems themselves, we - and our vision - will continue to evolve.

Let me take this opportunity to invite you to join us and follow the process on our media development platform - and to take part in the debate on Twitter, using the hashtag #mediadev.

In closing, I wish you a very Happy New Year filled with exciting developments and experiences.

Sincerely,
Christian Gramsch
Director DW Akademie