We and the Media: Critical Reflections on Media, Truth and Trust

The media represent, besides the legislative, executive and judicial, the fourth power and have an intermediary function: informing the population about policy and decisions. Journalists provide facts, form opinions and create a social understanding.
How do they fulfil their function today: do they realise it as a binding agent? Do they promote citizenship, or have they rather fallen out of their role? Is the growing distrust of the media a consequence of increasing commercialisation and mutual competition and if so, can the tide be turned? And how could the fourth estate use the new media for its task?