RTL Group | Cologne, 10/01/2018

‘RTL Com.mit Awards’ for Digital Social Commitment

There is another way: While the internet and digital media are often blamed for the spread of hatred and prejudice, many young people are using these same channels to campaign for a good cause and to help others. Recently, the voluntary social commitment awards “RTL Com.mit Award” were presented for these kinds of activities in three categories.

Last week, RTL presented this year’s “RTL Com.mit Awards” for exemplary volunteer work. The awards were given to young people for their digital social commitment and positive work on the internet last Thursday in the presence of the award’s patron, Günther Jauch.

In the “Individual” category, first place went to 29 year-old Dominique Nardin from Mannheim. In his “Retterherzen” communities on Facebook, Instagram, and Discord, Dominique connects emergency personnel from various sectors. A Facebook group in which employees and volunteers from social professions can have an exchange and tell about their experiences forms the core of his community.

The “RTL Com.mit Award” in the “Associations” category went to the Berlin group “Go Volunteer e.V.”. Go Volunteer is a nationwide community for social commitment. Helpers can have an exchange, recruit volunteers for their projects or join projects. The topics range from integration to geriatric care, youth work, the promotion of democracy, the protection of minorities, and protection of the environment and animals.

“Doing Long-Term Good And Attracting Attention To Positive Things”

The audience award, the winner of which was determined through online voting, went to 22 year-old Marco Krüger and 21 year-old Vincent Kunath from Naumburg in Saxony-Anhalt for their project “Das M steht für Mut”. The anti-mobbing initiative has been operating via Facebook and Instagram since 2016. Voluntary initiators give workshops at schools, consult with families and companies, and offer media-educational training throughout Saxony-Anhalt.

Günther Jauch, this year’s patron of the RTL voluntary commitment awards, and the members of the judging panel presented the awards at RTL’s studio in Berlin. This year’s judges were RTL presenter Nazan Eckes, the “Lochis” (musicians, comedians, YouTubers), bestselling author Sebastian Fitzek (“Das Joshua Profil”, “Passagier 23”), “Stern TV” presenter Steffen Hallaschka, Vox presenter Amiaz Habtu, and MTV presenter Wana Limar.

“The digital networking of our world presents us with entirely new social challenges,” said Nazan Eckes. “Hatred gets spread and prejudices are fueled at a faster pace. But the internet also provides the opportunity to do long-term good and attract attention to positive things. And there are many young people who will not wait for the world to get better by itself: All of our award winners have proven that they can take matters into their own hands. They demonstrate courage and creativity and thus contribute to a better, more social and more just coexistence. For me, they are all heroes, not just online.”

Supporting the Positive Energy And Creativity Of Young Digital Heroes

“Everybody’s talking about the dangerous effect of ‘fake news’, manipulation and hatred on the digital channels,” said Günther Jauch. “But there is another way, and the ‘RTL Com.mit Award’ has shown it this year. So many young people who engage in voluntary social commitment use the internet and social media to drive their commitment through these platforms and win over others for their projects. We especially honor them with this year’s presentation of the voluntary commitment awards. It is a great pleasure for me to be supporting the positive energy and creativity of so many young digital heroes through my patronage.”

The “RTL Com.mit Awards 2018” was entirely under the sign of digital commitment under the motto “#Netzhelden gesucht! Ihr macht die Welt besser” (“#Digital heroes wanted! You make the world a better place”). It targeted young people in the 15 to 29 age group who are making a difference through their voluntary social commitment in the digital realm or lead a voluntary project in a special way through their work online. They had to take the initiative in order to make a difference in society and actively co-design coexistence. Six submissions made it to the final. The celebrity judges made the final decision about the winners in the two categories “Individual” and “Associations”. More than 12,000 people voted to determine the winner of the “Audience Award” at www.rtlcommit.de.

All of the award winners of this year’s “RTL Com.mit Awards” were honored with a trophy and a Gopro camera. Each of the winners in the three categories also received a donation over €2,500 for their projects. In addition, all of the finalists will get top-notch event prizes such as VIP tickets for a football world cup qualification match with a stadium tour, special video editing workshops at RTL, and internships in various departments of Mediengruppe RTL. All of the submissions by the six finalists are available for viewing at www.rtlcommit.de  in the “Videowall” section.