Save the Date! M100 Sanssouci Colloquium
"Global Democracy – A Triumph for Social Networks?"
"Global Democracy - A Triumph for Social Networks?" This key question will be addressed at the M100 Sanssouci Colloquium 2011. Discussions will not only focus on the meaning of blogs and social networks in connection with the revolutions in Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco but also the potential effects of these movements on China, Iran and Eastern European countries with autocratic governmental systems as well as their consequences for traditional media.
The political roll blogs and social networks will continue to play after the Arab Spring, autocratic governments' use of new technology for their own purposes and against activists, as well as the role American and European tech companies who sell their products to autocratic governments play will also fuel discussions at the event.
Sihem Bensedrine to hold opening address
Tunisian human rights activist and journalist Sihem Bensedrine will be giving the opening speech at this year's M100 Sanssouci Colloquium. is one of the most famous Tunisian opposition figures, spokeswoman of the National Council for Freedom in Tunisia (CNLT) and editor-in-chief of the online newspaper "Kalima". For over ten years she has been campaigning for freedom of the press and freedom of speech. After enduring persecution and imprisonment, she went into exile in 2009. Following the resignation of Ben Ali, she returned to her home.
Here are the participants in 2011!
This year's participants come from North Africa, the Middle East, Dubai and Western and Eastern Europe. Among those joining the 2011 discussions in the Orangerie at Sanssouci Palace are the Tunisian journalist and human rights activists Sihem Bensedrine (Tunis), Stephan-Andreas Casdorff (Der Tagesspiegel), CANVAS co-founder Slobodan Djinovic (Belgrade), Asiem El Difraoui (Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, Berlin), Nakhle El-Hage (Al Arabiya, Dubai), Said Essoulami (CMF Mena, Paris), Regina von Flemming (Axel Springer Russia, Moscow), Peter Frey (ZDF, Mainz), Grzegorz Jankowski (Fakt, Warsaw) Hans-Ulrich Jörges (Stern, Berlin), Christoph Lanz (Deutsche Welle TV, Berlin), Georg Mascolo (Der Spiegel, Hamburg), Michael Naumann (Cicero, Berlin), Gamal Abdel Gawad Soltan (Al Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, Cairo), Frank Thomsen (Stern.de, Hamburg), Jillian C. York (Electric Frontier Foundation, San Francisco) and Christopher Walker (Freedom House, New York).
About the M100 Sanssouci Colloqium
Established in 2005, the M100 Sanssouci Colloquium was conceived by a group of leading media and public figures as a unique forum bringing together Europe’s top editors, commentators and media owners (print, broadcasting and internet) alongside key public figures to assess the role and impact of the media in European and international affairs. The initiative evolved into a major annual gathering which takes place at the historic palaces Sanssouci Park in Potsdam, Germany. As a modern-day East-West bridge-builder, the Colloquium fosters cross-continental media relations and exposes not only differences but also commonalities in the challenges faced by media from different cultures and geographies.
This year's colloquium is made possible by the support of the City of Potsdam, the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, the German Foreign Office, the ZEIT Foundation and Bertelsmann AG. Cooperation partners include Freedom House, Radio Free Europe and Reporter Without Borders. With the friendly support of Google, Audi, Air Berlin and Plista.
For more information, please visit www.m100potsdam.org
