Allensbach Study Examines News Literacy Education in German Schools
The Institut für Demoskopie Allensbach is launching a survey on behalf of the Stiftervereinigung der Presse to assess news literacy education in schools. The goal is to understand current practices and identify areas for improvement.
A comprehensive study examining the teaching of news literacy in German schools is commencing in Autumn 2024. The Institut für Demoskopie Allensbach is conducting the research commissioned by the Stiftervereinigung der Presse. The initiative aims to determine the significance of news comprehension and source criticism education and the competencies students acquire.
The study will survey teachers' perspectives on news literacy instruction and its curriculum. This follows up on a 2020 survey, allowing for an assessment of how teachers' views have evolved amidst changes in the media landscape. The research also covers teachers' personal media consumption habits and their understanding of Germany's media system.
A new focus area in the research is the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in gathering news. Teachers will be asked about their views on the opportunities and risks associated with using AI for information retrieval. The study will also investigate how AI is currently being utilized in classrooms and what skills students should develop related to AI for enhancing news literacy.
Additionally, the study includes trainee teachers to compare the knowledge and media usage of the next generation of educators with current teachers. News literacy is considered a crucial skill for democratic participation, with its importance growing due to digitalization.
The study's findings are expected in October 2026 and will be initially presented in part at the BDZV Congress in Berlin.