A cross-border journalist fellowship bringing together media professionals from India and Germany has culminated in the release of Journalism Connect: Rewiring Trust in Media, a handbook aimed at addressing the growing erosion of public trust in journalism across democracies.
Released on December 22, 2025, the handbook is the outcome of the Journalism Connect programme led by the Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan, in collaboration with Deutsche Welle, Asian Dispatch and Seraphim Communications. The initiative brought together 12 journalists from India and Germany to collectively examine structural, ethical and professional challenges confronting contemporary news media.
Responding to a Crisis of Trust in Journalism
The publication arrives at a time when news organisations globally are navigating rapid change — from shifting business models and digital-first publishing to the rise of artificial intelligence, partisan reporting and large-scale disinformation.
Positioned as a practical resource for journalists, media organisations and the public, the handbook explores how reporting standards and newsroom practices can be strengthened to rebuild transparency, accountability and audience confidence.
According to the Goethe-Institut, the concept of trust formed the foundation of the fellowship’s inquiry into the future of journalism. “The concept of trust formed the starting point for a broad examination of the fundamentals of information, media, and journalism,” said Anja Riedeberger, Director, Information Services South Asia at the Goethe-Institut. “The fellowship provided a vital platform for emerging journalists from Germany and India to learn from each other, share diverse perspectives, and collectively forge strategies to address the continuing loss of trust in media.”
Comparative India–Germany Media Perspectives
The handbook offers comparative insights into the media landscapes of India and Germany, highlighting shared challenges as well as localised responses. It examines how newsrooms in both countries are managing the speed-driven demands of digital publishing while maintaining rigorous fact-checking standards essential for public credibility.
A significant focus is placed on the ethical integration of artificial intelligence into journalism, outlining frameworks that prioritise accuracy, editorial responsibility and human oversight. The publication also highlights practical steps for making journalistic storytelling more inclusive and representative, while identifying strategies to deepen meaningful audience engagement.
Reflecting on the shared nature of the credibility challenge, project partner Deutsche Welle (DW) Hindi noted that declining trust in media is not limited to one geography.
“Globally, journalism is facing a growing crisis of credibility. In Germany, too, the media have struggled with a trust deficit,” DW Hindi said in a statement. “The program Journalism Connect offers a valuable opportunity to address this challenge collaboratively with Indian and German journalists.”
Fellowship Engagements Across Indian Cities
The Journalism Connect fellowship was designed to enable sustained dialogue and collaboration between Indian and German journalists. Participants engaged in virtual interactions with media experts from both countries before taking part in intensive in-person engagements within the Indian media landscape.
These in-person interactions were held during October and November 2025 across Bengaluru, Kolkata, New Delhi and Pune, allowing the cohort to engage directly with journalists, newsrooms and public audiences. The experiences, discussions and research emerging from these exchanges form the foundation of the handbook.
Emphasising the importance of cross-border dialogue, Sunanda Rao-Erdem, Founder and CEO of Seraphim Communications, said the programme demonstrated how collaboration can help rebuild confidence in journalism.
“This program has brought together an extraordinary group of talented media professionals working across borders and geographies. Their stories, perspectives, and collaborations are a testament to the power of dialogue in rebuilding faith in journalism,” she said.
Strengthening Ethical and Responsible Reporting
Asian Dispatch highlighted the growing importance of professional integrity at a time when misinformation poses increasing risks to democratic societies.
“At a time when misinformation poses a growing threat to democratic societies, the role of well-trained and ethically minded journalists has never been more important,” said Surbhi Pandit Nangia, Group Vice President, Asian Dispatch. “Trust in journalism depends on accuracy, transparency, and professional integrity, and this Handbook contributes to that effort by offering a practical framework to support informed discussion, responsible reporting, and public confidence in the media.”
Participating Journalists and Next Steps
The journalists who contributed to the Journalism Connect: Rewiring Trust in Media handbook include Aatreyee Dhar, Aditya Tiwari, Ankita Kishor Deshkar, Azeefa Fathima, Janardan Pandey and Kritika Goel from India, and Athithya Balamuraley, Bo Hyun Kim, Eliana Berger, Esra Lale, Friedrich Steffes-Iay and Luisa von Richthofen from Germany.
The cohort is scheduled to reconvene in Germany in May 2026, continuing the India–Germany dialogue on ethical journalism, media responsibility and rebuilding public trust.
Read and download the Handbook here.
