Dimensions and dilemmas of digitalisation: Challenges of the fourth industrial revolution

Media have always been subject to change. An essential part of these changes has been the fact that no older media have ever been completely extinguished, but instead have had to change and transform in relation to new media. This observation has been valid through various technological developments thus far. The era of the so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution is already in full swing. In addition to technological progresses that advance significantly and constantly, a growing and unstoppable phenomenon inherent in our daily life, digitalisation, has gained momentum. The Fourth Industrial Revolution does not only offer opportunities and challenges for media systems. This keynote address focuses on the challenges and the problems that have to be solved in the near future: it questions to what extent do we need, on a global level, adequate and updated political, economic, legal and regulatory as well as ethical frameworks in order to guarantee media accountability and transparency.