Public debate
Public Interest
Journalism
Healthy Digital
Public Space
Safeguarding Public debate, its quality and possibility
Public debate is essential to a healthy and vibrant democracy. By enabling citizens and society as whole to come together, share ideas and engage in dialogue to collectively define the Common good, it fosters the exchange of diverse perspectives, the formation of informed opinions and strengthens the ability of citizens to hold their leaders accountable.
However, public debate faces a number of interconnected challenges and dangers, exacerbated by the rapid digitization of society, such as the proliferation of disinformation, the rise of online and offline violence, the decline in trust in democratic institutions, and the fragmentation and polarization of opinions, creating a breeding ground for populism and extremism. Also facilitated by digital technologies, growing restrictions on civil society space and tightening media laws are observed in many backsliding democracies and authoritarian regimes, which are experiencing an upsurge in propaganda, surveillance, and censorship.
Combined, these intensifying trends not only threaten the quality of public debate, but its very possibility. Thus, to encourage open and constructive public debate that promotes understanding and dialogue rather than division and conflict, the Foundation is committed to:
- Support the vital role of public interest journalism in stimulating and informing public debate;
- Strengthen civil society organizations in their efforts to create a healthy digital public space that allows for safe, fair, and inclusive public debate in the digital realm.