Media Educational Social Work in 'Offener Kanal Hamburg' (Public Access Radio and TV Hamburg) - Possibilities and Limitations

This article will discuss if, and to what extent, media educational social work is practiced in the German public access television channel "Offener Kanal Hamburg." "Offener Kanal Hamburg" is producing and broadcasting programs made by non-professional local residents, many of them socially marginalized groups, like migrants or old people; but also children and teenagers are supported in their 'first steps' as TV-producers. These groups are trained and supported by permanently employed editors. I will begin by describing the role of "Offener Kanal" for media educational work in general. Then I will give a more precise definition of media educational social work - as a part of social work. I will conclude by determining whether the work of public access channels can be described as media educational social work and I will show the role that institutions like the "Offener Kanal" play for cooperative projects in the area of media educational social work.