Which Models for European Science Journalism? Lessons from France and Germany

Wednesday, 14 Oktober | 2.30–4.00 pm | Herrenhausen Palace 

  • Carolin Ollivier, head of News, ARTE GEIE, Strasbourg (France)
  • Marleen Halbach Theile, editor-in-chief, Science Media Center Germany, Heidelberg (Germany)
  • Benoît Tonson, head editor science, The Conversation France, Paris (France)
  • Pierre Girard, science journalist and AJSPI board member in charge of international affairs, Berlin (Germany) [Moderator]

Debates on climate, health and AI unfold at continental scale, yet science journalism remains largely national. Which editorial models can deliver rigorous science
reporting at European level? Using the long-standing partnership between France and Germany as a testing ground, this session compares three editorial trajectories —ARTE, Science Media Centre Germany, The Conversation France— focusing on scalable success stories in newsroom design, editorial standards and cross-border collaboration.

Carolin Ollivier

Carolin Ollivier is Head of News. She oversees the Franco-German editorial teams and leads the transformation of ARTE’s newsroom toward a broader European ambition, with a strong focus on cross-border cooperation and public-interest journalism.

Marleen Halbach Theile

Marleen Halbach-Theile is Editor-in-Chief at Science Media Center Germany. She leads editorial strategy and oversees expert sourcing and quality standards within a global SMC network, working to strengthen rigorous, independent science journalism in Europe.

Benoît Tonson

Benoît Tonson is Head editor Science at The Conversation France. He oversees science coverage and works with researchers and editors to produce accessible, evidence-based articles, contributing to the platform’s model of academic authorship and open republication.

Pierre Girard [Moderator]

Pierre Girard is a French science journalist working in France and Germany, notably for ARTE (Xenius, Roots, Scope). He runs the YouTube channel Tous Terriens!, won the 2023 Reporters d’Espoirs Award and serves on the board of AJSPI.