Do you have experience in telling stories about democracy issues in Europe? Civitates is looking for an independent consultant to prepare a report about our work on fostering a healthy digital public sphere in Europe.
The consultancy will ideally take place between January and February 2023.
Application deadline: 2 January 2023
Civitates’ grantee partners the Civil Liberties Union for Europe, Who Targets Me and 444’s fact-checking platform Lakmusz.hu collaborated on research around the Hungarian elections in April 2022. They examined how Hungarian political parties targeted audiences with tailored political ads on Facebook during the campaign period leading up to the elections.
Time and again CSOs have raised their voices about how harmful some practices related to targeted political ads can be for democracy. Political parties use highly personalised digital campaigning via social media with low levels of transparency, accentuating polarisation and disinformation.
A vibrant civil society is a key ingredient for democracy. Both NGOs and more informal movements help us make sure that governments are taking decisions that consider all of us. Such civil society groups allow us to join our voices together and make ourselves heard so we can speak regularly to our elected representatives and ensure they provide the appropriate support and care to everyone. Civil society keeps people in power on their toes.
The public sphere is a forum through which information is distributed and where citizens inform themselves, gather, share ideas and content, form opinions, voice their concerns, and mobilise.
Digital technology and social media have fundamentally changed the way information is produced, distributed, and consumed. This expansion of the public sphere has brought with it a set of opportunities and challenges.
Journalism plays a vital role in a democratic society. Often referred to as the fourth pillar of democracy, it provides a platform for dialogue and debate, helping individuals to form their opinions and participate as informed citizens in democratic processes. It also monitors governmental and corporate (in)actions, holding those in power to account. As research has shown, the health of independent media is linked to the health of democracy, with each powering the other.
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Email: secretariat@civitates-eu.org
