Teacher Media Day Focuses on Debate Culture
A free online training for teachers, organized by Bavarian newspapers, addresses how to discuss controversial topics respectfully and factually in the classroom.
The Teacher Media Day, an initiative by Bavarian newspapers, will be held as a livestream on November 18, 2026. The training aims to equip educators with methods for discussing controversial topics in a respectful, open, and fact-based manner within the classroom.
Ellen Heinrichs from the Bonn Institute will deliver a keynote titled „Hear What Is – Understanding in the Age of AI“. Her presentation will focus on how teachers can constructively guide discussions on contentious subjects, emphasizing listening, perspective-taking, and fact-based judgment. The session will also address the media landscape, increasingly influenced by algorithmic recommendations and AI-generated content.
Dr. Ronen Steinke, a lawyer and journalist for Süddeutsche Zeitung, will examine freedom of expression and democratic debate culture. He will discuss the necessity of tolerating and debating even uncomfortable opinions, and the importance of protecting and shaping democratic discussion spaces.
The event is part of Bavarian newspaper publishers' long-term commitment to media literacy, conducted in cooperation with the Bayerische Landeszentrale für politische Bildungsarbeit, Mediaschool Bayern, and Start into Media.