ENGAGE Tübingen is the sister project of Micro-Europa. The Tübingen INsPIrE team, consisting of dedicated students and coordinated by media scientist Kiron Patka, reports on its activities on the Blog ENGAGE Tübingen.

InsPIrE? ENGAGE? What is that?

INsPIrE is an EU-funded project that aims to rethink participatory journalism. Tübingen represents one of six location-based teams. Together with London, Brussels, Cluj, Mechelen and Barcelona we are:
Engage Europe!

We want to give young people access to social and intercultural competencies and strengthen democratic values, fundamental rights, social participation, tolerance and social commitment. To this end, we promote critical analysis of the media as well as fundamental competence in dealing with media - both in the private and public-professional spheres. We want to counteract forms of discrimination, racism, lies and hatred on the internet.

ENGAGE Tübingen therefore supports projects with children and adolescents who otherwise have only a limited opportunity to acquire necessary media literacy. These can be projects organized by nonprofit associations or community groups, as well as school projects by committed teachers. In the process, the young participants slip into the role of journalist. Together with media studies students in Tübingen, they develop radio and audio reports. They learn how easy it is to make radio - but also how closely the freedom of expression is coupled with social responsibility and commitment to media ethics standards.

Radio journalism or audio journalism (e.g. podcasts) is therefore particularly suitable because it overcomes the hurdle of writing. Radio also gives a voice to those who struggle with essay writing and dictation. To express oneself, all one needs is a microphone - and something to say. At the same time, one takes responsibility for what is said with one's own voice.