
TALK SERIES: “IRRITATE ME”
Bernhard Pörksen – Between Outrage and Insight
Thu, 25 Sept, 7:00 PM, Studio 14 – the rbb Roof Lounge, Masurenallee 20, 14057 Berlin
How can we foster open, respectful dialogue in an age of polarization and disinformation? What does it take to create a new culture of debate – and why can irritation be a catalyst for insight rather than an obstacle to it?
On 25 September 2025, renowned media scholar Bernhard Pörksen will join the “Irritate Me” series for a conversation with Peter-André Alt about the power of language, the responsibility of the media, and ways to create spaces for genuine discourse.
Bernhard Pörksen is among the most prominent media scholars and public intellectuals in the German-speaking world. A professor at the University of Tübingen, he is known as an author, speaker, and interlocutor for his sharp analysis and passionate advocacy for open, constructive debate. He explores how outrage has become a kind of currency, how social media accelerates and polarizes discussion, and how these shifts have transformed the way science communicates. In what he describes as a “scandal society,” attention is often mistaken for relevance – with far-reaching consequences for science and research. For Pörksen, listening is a powerful form of attention that, especially in times dominated by polarization and loud voices, allows us to understand difference, navigate complexity, and rethink the way we communicate.
In this discussion, Pörksen and Alt will address the role of the media in an unsettled public sphere, the responsibility of science and journalism, and why genuine listening is more essential than ever.
The event is free of charge and open to anyone interested in lively debate and fresh perspectives.
In cooperation with the Wübben Foundation for Science and the Young Academy.