#UseTheNews

What #UseTheNews does

#UseTheNews (legally UseTheNews gGmbH) is a Hamburg-based, non-profit German initiative founded by the Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) and the Bundesverband Digitaler Publisher und Zeitungsverleger (BDZV) to research and promote news literacy among young people in Germany. The organization operates a multi-component platform that combines direct youth engagement, teacher resources, research publications, and media-industry consulting. Its core offerings include the NewZee Community (an online community of media-interested youth aged 14–25 organized via WhatsApp groups, webinars, and workshops), Newscamps (in-person and online journalism encounter workshops for school students), the Ideathon format (a single-day democratic ideation workshop co-developed with educational publisher Westermann), and a free database of 194 teaching materials. The research arm, conducted in partnership with the Leibniz-Institut für Medienforschung | Hans-Bredow-Institut (HBI), produces landmark studies (including a national face-to-face survey of ~1,500 respondents segmenting youth into four news-consumption typologies) and a monthly Forschungsüberblick summary. Two new practice labs were added in 2025–2026: the Competence Center Young Audiences (CCYA) at Hamburg's Mediencampus Finkenau, which provides media companies a setting to test and co-develop youth-targeted news formats, and News-Navigator, a Hamburg coordination hub bundling news-literacy offerings for teachers. Behind The Feed, launched in June 2026 with FAZIT-STIFTUNG and Medienanstalt Hessen, extends the audience to parents through digital evening events.

The organization's business model is grant-funded rather than commercial. All educational materials, studies, whitepapers, the teaching-materials database, and the monthly newsletter are provided free of charge. Revenue is sourced from public institutions (Bundespresseamt, Landesanstalt für Medien NRW, Hamburg authorities for Culture/Media and School/Family/Vocational Training) and from foundations (FAZIT-STIFTUNG, Madsack Stiftung, Robert Bosch Stiftung, ZEIT Stiftung Bucerius), with the city-state of Hamburg as a co-initiator. The go-to-market approach is community-led for youths (14–25 via NewZee), event- and resource-driven for teachers (Newscamps, Ideathons, teaching materials) and media professionals (CCYA, whitepapers, playbook), and increasingly webinar-driven for parents. The team of approximately nine employees includes a Co-CEO (Vanessa Bitter), co-CEO René Schmidt, a COO track, project managers for media education, policy, and Newscamps, a CCYA project leader, community/communications leads, and working students. The leadership transition in July 2026 installed Vanessa Bitter, formerly COO and a 2024 kress pro Young Leader, alongside René Schmidt as co-CEOs, replacing retiring founder Meinolf Ellers (40+ years at dpa).

Name

#UseTheNews

Legal name

UseTheNews gGmbH

Website

https://usethenews.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

#UseTheNews is a Hamburg-based non-profit initiative, founded by dpa and BDZV, that researches and promotes news literacy among German youth aged 14–25. It operates the NewZee Community, Newscamps, a teaching-materials database, research studies, and practice labs (CCYA, News-Navigator), funded by public institutions and foundations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Media Literacy Education

NAICS

Periodical Publishers (513120), Information (51)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Information & Media Literacy (Evaluate Sources, Misinformation) (EDAAAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Open Courseware & Course Modules (OCW) (EDAGAJAB), Children’s News & Current Affairs Programming (MPABAKAK)

Keywords

• News literacy education
• Media literacy programs
• Youth journalism initiatives
• Digital media education
• News competency training

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government and Public Funding: Supported by public institutions including Bundespresseamt (Federal Press Office), Landesanstalt für Medien NRW, Hamburger Behörde für Kultur und Medien, Hamburger Behörde für Schule, Familie und Berufsbildung (BSFB)
2. Foundation Grants: Funding from foundations including FAZIT-STIFTUNG, Madsack Stiftung, Robert Bosch Stiftung, ZEIT Stiftung Bucerius
3. Institutional Partnerships: Initiative by dpa and BDZV with support from media industry partners, academic institutions, and media regulators

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

#UseTheNews is a non-profit news literacy initiative that develops and delivers free educational programs, community platforms, and research to strengthen news and media literacy among young people aged 14–25 in Germany. Its core offerings include youth community programs (NewZee Community, Newscamps, Ideathon), practitioner laboratories (CCYA, News-Navigator), parent education series (Behind The Feed), a free teaching materials database, and commissioned academic research studies and whitepapers.

Product overview

#UseTheNews is a German news literacy and democracy promotion initiative organized as a non-profit company (UseTheNews gGmbH) headquartered in Hamburg. It functions as a multi-component platform offering both direct youth engagement programs and knowledge resources for educators and media professionals. The portfolio consists of: (1) Youth-facing community programs — NewZee Community (online community for 14–25-year-olds with WhatsApp groups, webinars, and workshops), Newscamps (in-person and online journalism encounter workshops for school students), and Ideathon (single-day democratic ideation workshops for school classes); (2) A research and knowledge arm — publishing monthly Forschungsüberblick research summaries, landmark studies (e.g., the national news literacy study and the low-interest youth study), and whitepapers (covering journalism education, the Year of News 2024 for both journalism and education audiences, and the CCYA first-year review); (3) Educational resources — a database of 194+ free teaching materials curated across topics and competency areas, and downloadable handouts on topics such as disinformation recognition; (4) Practitioner labs — the Competence Center Young Audiences (CCYA), a Hamburg-based co-creation lab for media companies to test new formats with youth, and News-Navigator, a Hamburg coordination hub bundling local media literacy offerings for schools; (5) Parent education — the Behind The Feed online event series developed with FAZIT-STIFTUNG and Medienanstalt Hessen; and (6) A monthly #UseTheNews-Letter newsletter. The CCYA and News-Navigator represent the initiative's most direct practice-lab approach, while studies and whitepapers serve as the evidentiary foundation for all programming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Competence Center Young Audiences (CCYA): A practical laboratory in Hamburg bringing together youth, journalism, and media education to develop innovative journalistic formats and teaching concepts.
• Behind The Feed
• News-Navigator

Products and services

• NewZee Community A free community platform for media-interested young people aged 14–25, enabling exchange about journalism and media through webinars, workshops, surveys, and WhatsApp groups (NewZee Representatives and NewZee Experts tracks). For youth in Germany seeking to engage with journalism and quality news.
• Newscamps Hands-on journalism and media literacy workshops for school students where youth meet journalists and media educators, exchange directly on topics like journalism, news production, and disinformation, and learn through participation rather than lecture. For teachers and schools in Germany.
• Ideathon A single-school-day workshop format in which school students (grades 8–10) develop their own ideas for democratic participation and media engagement, supported by media coaches from the CCYA, journalists, and Westermann. Winning ideas receive ongoing mentorship. Open to schools via application.
• Competence Center Young Audiences (CCYA) A Hamburg-based practice laboratory at the Mediencampus Finkenau bringing together youth, journalists, and media educators to test and co-develop innovative journalistic formats, school teaching concepts, and new media products with media company partners. For media companies seeking to engage young audiences.
• News-Navigator A Hamburg-based neutral coordination hub that bundles existing news and information literacy offerings from Hamburg's media houses and educational initiatives, serving as a central point of contact for teachers. Also conducts pilot projects across all school types where students learn journalism from research to publication.
• Behind The Feed – Nachrichten-Kompetenz für Eltern A four-module online event series for parents and guardians on parental media education, developed with FAZIT-STIFTUNG and Medienanstalt Hessen. Covers how children inform themselves, AI's role, social media algorithms, crisis news, and digital role models. Twelve sessions delivered Aug–Dec 2026 via the Digitaler Familientalk platform.
• Teaching Materials Database A free database of 194+ teaching materials from various providers covering news literacy and media production, organized by subject area (classical media, social media, disinformation, press law, hate speech, democracy), grade level (primary, lower secondary, upper secondary), and competency area. For teachers and schools.
• #UseTheNews-Letter (Newsletter) A monthly free newsletter delivering insights on news offerings for and about Generation Z, presenting teaching materials and media education resources, and providing background knowledge on how young people use media and news.

Quantifiable outcome

• 43 Newscamps conducted bringing journalists and youth together
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

33 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and major.

• dpa (Deutsche Presse-Agentur)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary initiator and founding partner of #UseTheNews. Provides journalistic expertise, news industry connections, and infrastructure support. CEO Peter Kropsch serves as oversight.
• BDZV (Bundesverband Digitalpublisher und Zeitungsverleger)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-publisher of #UseTheNews-Playbook with dpa. Represents German newspaper and digital publishers in the initiative.
• Leibniz-Institut für Medienforschung | Hans-Bredow-Institut (HBI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner conducting studies on news consumption and media literacy among youth. Researchers include Uwe Hasebrink, Sascha Hölig, Leonie Wunderlich, and Leonie Alatassi.
• HAW Hamburg (Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften Hamburg)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner providing scientific staff and research expertise. Houses CCYA project leader Fiete Stegers and Sandra Jütte.
• Freie und Hansestadt HamburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity-state co-initiator represented by Senator Dr. Carsten Brosda (Kultur und Medien) and Senatorin Ksenija Bekeris (Schule, Familie und Berufsbildung). Provides government backing and school system access.
• TIDE HamburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHamburg's civic broadcaster and training channel. Co-developer of CCYA and News-Navigator project. Provides media education facilities and expertise.
• FAZIT-STIFTUNGflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation partner for parent media education project 'Behind The Feed'. Co-organizer of launch event in F.A.Z.-Tower Frankfurt. Focus on family media literacy.
• Medienanstalt HessenflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerState media authority partner for parent education program 'Behind The Feed' through Digitaler Familientalk platform. Provides programmatic infrastructure and reach to families.
• WestermannflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational publisher co-developer of Ideathon format for schools. Publisher of Whitepaper 'Jahr der Nachricht' Bildung. Provides school access and educational expertise.
• Hamburg Media SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCYA project partner providing expertise in media education and journalism training.
• ARDmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPublic service broadcaster network as media partner. NDR specifically involved in CCYA TikTok format testing.
• ZDFmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPublic service broadcaster as media partner in the initiative.
• RTLmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommercial broadcaster with RTL Nord involved in CCYA TikTok news testing. RTL Nord CEO Sonja Schwetje on #UseTheNews advisory board.
• Journalismus macht SchuleflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation initiative partner for teaching materials database. Joint database project with #UseTheNews.
• klicksafemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman media literacy initiative as program and education partner.
• Landesanstalt Medien NRWmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState media authority as media partner providing regulatory perspective and educational resources.
• Medienanstalt Hamburg/Schleswig-HolsteinmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional media authority as media partner for youth media literacy.
• Medienanstalt Berlin-BrandenburgmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional media authority as media partner.
• Medienanstalt Rheinland-PfalzmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional media authority as media partner.
• DIE ZEITmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational newspaper as media partner and CCYA project partner.
• Hamburger AbendblattmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional newspaper as media partner and CCYA project partner.
• Radio HamburgmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal radio station as media partner and CCYA project partner.
• Deutsche广播电台majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGermany's international broadcaster as media partner.
• DeutschlandradiomajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPublic radio broadcaster as media partner.
• SWRmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSouthwest German public broadcaster as media partner.
• Der SpiegelmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLeading news magazine as media partner.
• FUNKE MediengruppemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLarge German media group as media partner.
• ProSiebenSat.1majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor commercial broadcaster as media partner.
• News Literacy ProjectmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational news literacy organization as program partner.
• Reporter ohne GrenzenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational journalism freedom organization as program partner.
• LI Hamburg (Landesinstitut für Qualifizierung und Qualitätsentwicklung in Schulen)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHamburg state institute for school development as partner in News-Navigator project for integrating news literacy into school curriculum.
• WhatTheFact Hamburg (NDR)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional TikTok news channel from NDR Hamburg using CCYA for audience testing and feedback workshops with vocational school students.
• RTL NordflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional RTL broadcaster with TikTok news channel using CCYA for audience research and student studio visits for format development.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung (bpb): German federal agency for civic and political education. Broader mandate than #UseTheNews but funds and produces overlapping school material on media, democracy and disinformation.

Direct peers

• News Literacy Project: US-based non-profit that equips educators and students with news-literacy skills. Closest international counterpart to #UseTheNews and already an explicit program partner, making it the most direct peer in the field.
• Mediawise (PBS NewsHour): PBS-affiliated news-literacy program for students and educators. Highly comparable mission to #UseTheNews, with the difference that it sits inside a major US public broadcaster rather than an independent non-profit.
• klicksafe: German/EU media-literacy initiative coordinated by Landesanstalt für Medien Rheinland-Pfalz. Covers very similar ground to #UseTheNews in promoting safe and critical internet use, and is listed as a #UseTheNews program partner.
• Lie Detectors: European media-literacy non-profit that brings journalists into classrooms to teach critical news consumption. Directly comparable to the Newscamps and Ideathon formats, with similar youth and teacher audiences.
• Common Sense Media: US non-profit providing media-literacy and digital-citizenship resources for families, educators and youth. Closest functional analogue to #UseTheNews across the parent/teacher/youth triad, though at substantially greater scale.

Regional players

• No Fake News: NRW state initiative against disinformation, supported by Landesanstalt für Medien NRW — the same institution funding #UseTheNews. Operates a similar educational remit but at a single-state level, making it a regional rather than national peer.

Others

• Reporter ohne Grenzen: International press-freedom organization, already a #UseTheNews program partner. Adjacent rather than directly competing, since RSF focuses on journalist safety rather than youth news literacy.
• Stiftung Neue Verantwortung: Berlin-based think tank working on digital policy, including media literacy and platform regulation. Adjacent ecosystem player that informs the policy environment #UseTheNews operates in.

Emerging players

• Information Futures Lab (formerly First Draft): Brown University-hosted research and training organization advancing information-quality and news-literacy work. Comparable on the research/practitioner-training side, though primarily academic in orientation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UseTheNews
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/usethenews
• Instagraminstagram.com/usethenews
• TikToktiktok.com/@usethenews

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about #UseTheNews