BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg project nominated for journalism prize

The projectsternchen.fm, based within the chair of Media Education and Aesthetic Practice in Social Work at the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU) – the independent radio station for Cottbus and the Lusatia region – has been nominated by an independent expert jury for the award in the Local Pioneers category.
TheStadt_Land im FlussLocal Journalism Prize is a project run by the Berlin-Brandenburg Media Authority (mabb) in cooperation with the Babelsberg Media Innovation Centre (MIZ), funded by the states of Berlin and Brandenburg, and is awarded in three categories.

The team at sternchen.fm – comprising staff and students from the BTU as well as enthusiastic volunteers from Cottbus and the surrounding area – are delighted.

Project leader Prof. Kiwi Menrath explains: “I am delighted about the nomination for the ‘Stadt_Land im Fluss’ Local Journalism Award! For us, it is a very special recognition of the work we do with community radio, and above all a wonderful affirmation of just how important accessible and diverse local journalism is.”

Project coordinatorJohannaTirnthal emphasises: “Community radio thrives on the people, their stories and their willingness to share their perspectives and voices. That is exactly what we want to continue to strengthen in the future. The nomination is therefore also an incentive to further develop the project, try out new ideas and inspire even more people to get involved in making radio together and telling local stories.”

About sternchen.fm

Independent radio stations such as sternchen.fm form the third pillar of the media landscape alongside public service and commercial broadcasters; they are open to all, ad-free and grassroots democratic. The ‘Community Radio for Cottbus and the Lusatia’ project at the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg was launched in early 2025 and is funded for three years by the Kulturplan Lausitz project fund. The programme focuses in particular on current issues relating to living, working and community involvement in the Lusatia region, as well as news from the worlds of politics and culture. Broadcasts take place every Sunday from 4 pm on the DAB+ channel Radiokombinat Brandenburg. It is also possible to listen to the stream on the sternchen.fm website and to find all past programmes in the media library or as podcasts there. Anyone interested is warmly welcome to visit the sternchen.fm studio at Burglehnstraße 22 in Cottbus every Tuesday from 5.30 pm to 7.30 pm and every Wednesday from 3 pm to 5 pm. 
Further information: https://sternchen.fm/

About the Local Journalism Award

In 2025, the Berlin-Brandenburg Media Authority (mabb) launched an award for outstanding local journalism in Berlin and Brandenburg. The ‘Stadt_Land im Fluss’ award, sponsored by the Berlin Senate Chancellery and the Brandenburg State Chancellery, highlights creative and innovative concepts that provide citizens in both federal states with local information, create spaces for interaction and provide journalistic coverage of transformation processes.

The‘Stadt_Land im Fluss’prize recognises the important work of media professionals and raises the profile of the diversity of local journalism. For new local formats, following selection by an independent expert jury, one winner each for Berlin and Brandenburg will be honoured in the categories ‘Lokal-Pioniere’, ‘Lokal_Wandel’ and ‘Lokal_Innovation’.
The prize money amounts to 5,000 euros in each case. The awards ceremony, including the announcement of the winners, will take place on 19 November 2026.

Further information:

https://www.mabb.de/foerderung/lokaljournalismus/lokaljournalismus-preis
https://www.lokaljournalismus-preis.de/nominierte