Yesterday took place the Annual Event of the Gaztelueta Foundation with a conference-colloquium by the hand of D. Alfonso Sánchez-Tabernero which had as its title: Cohesive or polarised societies. The quality of public debate in the media. Sánchez-Tabernero, Professor of Communication Enterprises and President of the Association of Friends of the University of Navarra. At this academic centre he has been Rector (2012-2022), Vice-Rector (2005-2012) and Dean of the Faculty of Communication (1996-2005).
He was also President of the European Media Management Education Association and professor at the University of Manchesterof the University of the Basque Country and the Institute for Media & Entertainment in New York. Throughout his career he has focused his research work on the strategic management of media companies. He has advised academic centres in thirteen countries. His latest book is University Governance. Challenges, models and strategiespublished in May 2023.
The session addressed how the media perform three essential functions for the functioning of democracies: they inform citizens of the most relevant facts, favour the contrast of opinions and contribute to social cohesion. When the media neglect these missions, superficiality and polarisation increase: topics of conversation are almost exclusively about unimportant issues and most of the population only reads or listens to messages that reinforce their points of view. The session will analyse how the quality of the media has evolved and what the attitude of those who wish to act responsibly should be.
At the end of the colloquium, a lunch was served in the Chalet where the attendees were able to exchange impressions of what had been discussed.
