Speak Properly: From Mudslinging to Constructive Dialogue

Journalist and author Kurt Strand presents a lecture series spanning three Wednesdays in November 2026, organized jointly by Folkeuniversitetet and Trekanten Library and Cultural Centre. The series is based on his book "So Talk Properly" and examines what is wrong with public discourse - on television, radio, in newspapers and on social media - and what changes are needed for us to communicate better with each other. Each lecture concludes with discussion and dialogue. Strand has over 40 years of experience as a journalist and has taught journalism, interviewing and storytelling techniques since the early 1990s.

Wednesday 4 November 2026, 17:00-18:45 - Is the next pandemic polarization?
Democracy requires that citizens can exchange views without being met with verbal aggression. Research shows that more and more people choose to stay silent on political issues because the risk of verbal attacks is too high.

Wednesday 11 November 2026, 17:00-18:45 - Democracy's weapons of mass destruction
Many conflicts between people are constructed and inflamed - driven by false narratives and rhetorical devices that remove all nuance. In the extreme, this kind of simplification leads to violence and war.

Wednesday 18 November 2026, 17:00-18:45 - To discuss is to think together
Public debate can become more constructive if we as citizens take our responsibility seriously - and if the media act as active moderators rather than conflict-seeking actors.

Tickets are purchased via the "Buy ticket" button at the top of the page. Trekanten's Café can be contacted on tel. 99 31 76 13, where you can ask about the menu and order in advance.