The Algorithm is the Message. Die unsichtbare Grenze der Pressefreiheit

In the organizer's words:

Panel discussion: Algorithms control what we see, read and believe. But what happens when click rates and watchtime become invisible editorial management?

Algorithms control what we see, read and believe. But what happens when click rates and watchtime become invisible editorial management? The event shines a light on the silent, dangerous threat to the freedom of journalism: anticipatory obedience to the code.

The moderator Felicia Holtkamp, editor-in-chief of the young magazine of the state agency GENZ, discusses with Christian Stöcker (Hamburg University of Applied Sciences and author of books such as "Männer, die die die Welt verbrennen" (2024) or "Die Große Beschleunigung" as well as the column "Der Rationalist" on Spiegel Online) and Alice Echtermann (NDR, Team Verifikation und Faktencheck) what the consequences can be when metrics decide on content. In the State and University Library - an arena of scientifically founded discourse - we ask ourselves the critical question: Who will write our news in 2026 - our convictions or the algorithm?

A cooperation between the Hamburg Carl von Ossietzky State and University Library and the Hamburg State Agency for Civic Education on the occasion of Press Freedom Day.