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With BC4D, the “Business Council for Democracy”, companies can train their employees in media literacy and democracy. The courses on offer are increasingly in demand.
The idea for the project was born a few years ago. In 2020, employees of the non-profit Hertie Foundation, together with the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), considered how disinformation could be countered. At that time there were many programs for schoolchildren, says Sophia Becker from the t Foundationagesschau.de.
However, this passed adults by. Hence the idea: a concrete offer for older people too. And that for companies. Large corporations in particular, but also many medium-sized companies, are actually active when it comes to xenophobia and agitation, says Becker. But only locally. Networking between companies is therefore also important.
One hour of training per week
The aim of the “Business Council for Democracy (BC4D)” is to learn the skills to recognize fake news and counter hate and hate speech on the Internet. For example, how to deal with it and possible strategies in the digital space are taught. In the end, the whole thing should strengthen democracy and cosmopolitanism.
So that adults can find time for such training courses in addition to the eight hours of work every day, they are limited in time. Knowledge should only be imparted once a week. Not in company rooms, but online. Such a course runs over a period of eight weeks and 20 employees can take part.
The first training courses were offered in 2021, and demand was reportedly quite clear at the time. However, probably also because of the special situation during the corona pandemic. On average, 40 to 50 companies are added every year, according to the Hertie Foundation.
Correctiv research increases demand
However, demand is now increasing significantly. Around 125 companies have so far joined together in the “Business Council for Democracy” – including large corporations such as VW, TUI and Continental, but also many medium-sized companies. In addition to their commitment to democracy, they are all united by their concern for skilled workers from abroad.
Especially since the publications by the research network Correctiv about the secret meeting of right-wing extremists in Potsdam – and the numerous demonstrations against right-wing extremism nationwide – more and more companies are contacting us asking for training or wanting to network, as Sophia Becker says. “We are currently in discussions with a lot of companies.”
She cannot see any difference between the concerns of entrepreneurs in East or West Germany. The problem is known to be more widespread in some regions in the east than elsewhere. But companies’ concerns about hate speech and xenophobia are the same everywhere.