M100 SANSSOUCI COLLOQUIUM

Europe’s unique Media Conference for Democracy and Press Freedom

Between Ambition and Disarray – The Future of Democracy

Thursday, 14 September 2023
Orangery Sanssouci, Potsdam
M100 Media Award

M100 Media Award 2022
to the people of Ukraine
accepted by Dr Wladimir Klitschko
Laudationes: Amy Gutmann & Donald Tusk
Keynote Speech: Olaf Scholz
M100 YEJ Workshop

Reporting on Climate Change – and its Significance for Democracy

9 – 14 September 2023
Potsdam

M100 Sanssouci Colloquium

M100 Media Award

M100 Young European Journalists Workshop

Support Us

News

Thank you for the support, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg!

“In times of a crumbling Europe and increasing censorship on the one hand as well as Fake News and hate speech on the other hand, it is particularly important that we take a stand for freedom of press and opinion. We have to take care that new audiovisual platforms will not be misused as instruments for demagogues. The Medienboard supports the M100 Sanssouci Colloquium in order to promote a journalistic exchange on the European level and to discuss modern conditions for a democratic, tolerant and cosmopolitan society.”

Helge Jürgens, Managing Director of Media Development, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg

We are pleased to announce our media cooperation with Polis180

The M100 Sanssouci Colloquium cooperates with the young European grassroots thinktank Polis 180. The thinktank aims at integrating ideas, analyses and solutions of the young generation through innovative, participative and inclusive Aapproaches in the political discourse, developing alternatives for a constructive European and foreign policy through new and creative formats and translating scientificfindings for political decision-makers. At the M100 Sanssouci Colloquium members of the thinktanks take part in the Sessions and enrich debates with results of studies and surveys.

Victor Erofeev talks at this year’s M100 Sanssouci Colloquium

“Western democracy now looks poor. It is like a tree without roots and with falling leaves. Post-Soviet nations such as Ukraine and Georgia or pro-European opposition movement in Russia aim to follow Europe sharing the same values. But the Western democracy has become a simulacrum and to run after it is the same as to run after a ghost.”

Victor Erofeev, Writer, Russia

I am very moved, especially because I was not expecting to hear these words, which are like an embrace for me. So I want to thank you for this award, for the incredibly moving words of Giovanni di Lorenzo, for this wonderful sky that has welcomed me to Potsdam, and also to thank the Federal Chancellor for her touching words, and for her encouraging presence. Because the awareness raised heartens me a lot more than words. Roberto Saviano, M100 Media Award laureate 2016
It is a great honour for me to be here and receive this great price. It's a very big day for me. I thank Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel and Dr. Joachim Gauck for the kind and strong words, and for their appreciation. Thank you, I will never forget this day! Kurt Westergaard, danish cartoonist, M100 Media Award laureate 2010
At the same time, today’s prize is an appeal to all persons who hold positions of responsibility in governments, in culture and in the media: be steadfast, value-oriented and also COURAGEOUS when irresponsible persons and powers undermine or relativise our values of freedom. It is a virtue to yield to a convincing argument, but it is cowardice to yield to a threat from enemies of freedom. Joachim Gauck in his laudation to Kurt Westergaard, 2010
I receive [this award] with an immense joy, happiness and humility also, because I think by being with you today here, I am receiving this price in the name of those who are still suffering in the jungle of Colombia and of those in the world that are living in similar conditions and who cannot speak for themselves freely. Ingrid Betancourt, M100 Media Award laureate 2008
But I have to say that in our modern society the media has a very, very particular responsibility, also for the European idea. And I hope that the event today – and the events which will follow – will help us to communicate better, to explain better and to convince people that Europe – and acknowledging all the problems, the mistakes and the deficits – […] that at the end of the day the idea of European integration is the best idea that we have ever developed in our history. Günther Verheugen, former EU-Commissioner, in his keynote speech 2005

M100 Spacer image