Yesterday DW launched a new series that takes an in-depth look at the intricacies of being German. With Those Germans, we are trying to highlight and explain all the facts and fiction related to German culture: punctual and reliable, badly dressed and no sense of humor? Just check out Those Germans to find out what other clichés are associated with the German identity.

 

DW Akademie is testing an innovative new training format for bloggers and journalists in North Africa based on the MOOC concept (massive open online course). The Open Media Summit (OMS) is an interactive online course combining e-learning and social media, which is an open-access, interactive, online platform where educational resources are distributed through live streaming, discussion forums and other online resources. The course is free and open to everyone. The only prerequisites are English and Arabic language skills and a computer or laptop with an Internet connection.

More than 300 citizen journalists from North Africa are testing the new learning format, which offers a virtual campus. Participants can meet in online classrooms, access training resources and take part in live stream sessions. The website shows how many people are online and the countries they’re from. This is part of the concept behind open exchange and interactive learning.

Upcoming topics on the course agenda include dealing responsibly with online sources, data-driven journalism and Internet censorship. A total of six live video sessions will feature guest experts from North Africa. The course is open to all those interested, and newcomers are welcome.

DW report Philipp Bilsky has been recognized as part of the Next Generation of Science Journalists for a segment showed on Future Now. Bilsky looked at a team of German scientists working with Ghanaian colleagues deep in the African jungle to try and reduce the risks that bats pose to humans’ health.

To help recognize emerging Science Journalists, Germany’s most read medical journal Deutsches Ärzteblatt, the World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ), and the World Health Summit designed the Next Generation of Science Journalists competition.

Future Now is a DW series that presents 20 projects and the researchers who are looking for solutions to burning questions about the future.

 

DW has brought back The New Arab Debates – with Tim Sebastian for its viewers around the world. The first of six new episodes was broadcast yesterday on DW, DW (Europe) and DW (Arabia). For the first time, the show is also being produced in Arabic for its viewers in the Arab world.

Each episode will focus on current affairs from the Arab world, with two guests offering their opinions and perspectives. Veteran journalist and television host Tim Sebastian is back for the English version and Egyptian TV journalist Mai El Sherbiny will be hosting the Arabic version.

 

Planning is already underway for the next Global Media Forum, DW’s annual conference featuring panel discussion, workshops and more with representatives from the media, civil society and other sectors.

The theme for the June 17-19, 2013 Global Media Forum is “The Future of Growth – Economic Values and the Media.” The conference will address the ongoing challenges facing the world economy, from political tensions to climate change and resource scarcity.

Event organizers stated: “Sustainable economic development is a sociopolitical issue in which the media play an important role. The convey information and knowledge. But they are also expected to alert us to problems and hold those responsible accountable for their actions.”

Topics for discussion at June forum will include good governance for sustainable development, balancing economic growth, the economy and the environment, and the path to social justice.