Society for Media Education and Communication Culture in the Federal Republic of Germany
Corporate brand
UnclaimedGermany's nationwide professional association for media education, media literacy and communication culture, founded in 1984.
Last updated September 28, 2026
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Overview
The Gesellschaft für Medienpädagogik und Kommunikationskultur in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland e.V. (GMK) is a nationwide German professional association for education, culture and media. Founded in 1984, it describes itself as the German professional and umbrella organisation for media education. Its stated mission is to advance media education and media literacy from preschool education through seniority, to promote participation, creativity and critical faculty through media, to bring research and practice together, and to treat media education as a cross-sectional endeavour. The association is a registered non-profit organisation (e.V.) and brings together interested and engaged people from research and practice, ensuring the exchange of information. The GMK is active across a broad range of fields. It organises regular specialist conferences, nationwide, state-level and regional expert networks, and publishes numerous books and statements. Its publications appear twice a year with the kopaed publishing house, and members receive them automatically and free of charge. The association maintains numerous specialist groups (Fachgruppen) covering areas such as out-of-school media education, citizen media, adult and continuing education, film, games, global media literacy, audio media, inclusive media education, youth media protection, early childhood education (KiTa), media and gender relations, media education in libraries, multimedia, net politics, qualitative research and school. Together with the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ), the GMK awards the Dieter Baacke Preis, a nationwide prize for exemplary, primarily out-of-school media education projects with children, young people and families. The prize is named after Dieter Baacke, a German media educator who served as the GMK's chair from 1984 to 1999. The GMK also participates in other prizes, prize funds and jury work. Its board is elected every two years, most recently in November 2024. The association is engaged in current media policy debates. Its website highlights topics such as strengthening media education in schools, legal frameworks for pedagogical work with games, the permanent anchoring of digital participation, and campaigns such as "Medienbildung stärkt Demokratie" (Media education strengthens democracy). It also runs the STRONG project against online violence and cybergrooming and takes the position "Regulieren statt verbieten" (regulate instead of ban) regarding pedagogical responsibility. The GMK organises the annual Forum Kommunikationskultur, whose 43rd edition is announced for 2026, and it maintains a presence at events such as gamescom. Through its publications, conferences, awards and advocacy, the GMK functions as a central hub for media education in Germany.
History
The Gesellschaft für Medienpädagogik und Kommunikationskultur e.V. (GMK) was founded in 1984 as a nationwide association of professionals from the fields of education, culture and media. It describes itself as the German professional and umbrella organisation for media education. From its founding, the association sought to promote and responsibly shape media education and communication culture in the Federal Republic of Germany, with the aim that mass media should serve the cultural and communicative needs and interests of all citizens and be used as a means of expression, experience and design. Dieter Baacke, a German media educator, served as the association's chair from 1984 to 1999. His name is now attached to the Dieter Baacke Preis, which the GMK awards together with the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ) to honour exemplary, primarily out-of-school media education projects with children, young people and families. The prize has been accompanied by a handbook series, with volumes published regularly from 2011 to 2024. Over the decades, the GMK has built a broad infrastructure of specialist groups (Fachgruppen) covering areas such as out-of-school media education, citizen media, adult and continuing education, film, games, global media literacy, audio media, inclusive media education, youth media protection, KiTa, media and gender relations, media education in libraries, multimedia, net politics, qualitative research and school. It organises regular specialist conferences and maintains nationwide, state-level and regional expert networks. Its book publications appear twice a year with the kopaed publishing house, and members receive them automatically and free of charge. The association has recognised long-standing contributors through honorary memberships since 2009, including Gerhard Tulodziecki (2009), Wolfgang Wunden (2010), Wolfgang Schill (2011), Renate Luca (2012), Dieter Spanhel (2013), Ingrid Paus-Hasebrink (2014), Günter Thiele and Dieter Wiedemann (2015), Horst Niesyto (2017), Franz Josef Röll (2018), Brigitte Hipfl (2019), Ida Pöttinger (2020), Bernward Hoffmann (2021), Gerda Sieben (2022), Hans-Jürgen Palme (2023) and Ben Bachmair (2024). The GMK's board is elected every two years, most recently in November 2024. In recent years the association has addressed current digital policy issues, including legal frameworks for pedagogical work with games, the permanent anchoring of digital participation, and campaigns such as 'Medienbildung stärkt Demokratie'. It runs the STRONG project against online violence and cybergrooming and advocates the position 'Regulieren statt verbieten' (regulate instead of ban). It organises the annual Forum Kommunikationskultur, whose 43rd edition is announced for 2026, and maintains a presence at events such as gamescom. Through its publications, conferences, awards and advocacy, the GMK continues to function as a central hub for media education in Germany.
- 2026
43rd Forum Kommunikationskultur announced; GMK member campaign 'Medienbildung stärkt Demokratie'.
- 2024
Ben Bachmair awarded honorary membership; board re-elected in November 2024.
- 2023
Hans-Jürgen Palme awarded honorary membership.
- 2022
Gerda Sieben awarded honorary membership.
- 2021
Bernward Hoffmann awarded honorary membership.
- 2020
Ida Pöttinger awarded honorary membership.
- 2019
Brigitte Hipfl awarded honorary membership.
- 2018
Franz Josef Röll awarded honorary membership.
- 2017
Horst Niesyto awarded honorary membership.
- 2015
Günter Thiele and Dieter Wiedemann awarded honorary memberships.
Products and positioning
Nationwide professional and umbrella association for media education in Germany, combining research, practice, publishing, awards and policy advocacy.
Dieter Baacke Preis
Nationwide award for exemplary, primarily out-of-school media education projects with children, young people and families, awarded with BMFSFJ.
Forum Kommunikationskultur
Annual specialist conference; the 43rd edition is announced for 2026.
GMK book series with kopaed Verlag
Books published twice yearly; members receive them automatically and free of charge.
Fachgruppen (specialist groups)
Groups covering out-of-school media education, citizen media, adult education, film, games, global media literacy, audio media, inclusive media education, youth media protection, KiTa, media and gender, libraries, multimedia, net politics, qualitative research and school.
Recent events
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