Media History

The “Media History” research group examines the role of communication and the media in social and societal processes from two perspectives within the history of media and communication – on the one hand, as communication in the past, and on the other, as communication about the past.

In the first case, media providers, communicators and communicative processes are examined in terms of their significance for historical processes of transformation. One example of this is the project on the history of Hessischer Rundfunk in the post-war period.

In the second instance, studies are being carried out on the valuation of the past, based on the fundamental changes in the constellation of actors and communicative practices in digital interactive media. This research into practices of remembrance and a ‘digital media history’ is being carried out in close collaboration with the Leibniz Research Network ‘Value of the Past’ in its 2nd phase (2025–2029) and Research Group 3 ‘Participation and Appropriation’, which is part of it.

Head of the research group: Dr. Hans-Ulrich Wagner

Photo by Pablo García Saldaña on Unsplash

Overview

Last update: 16.09.2026

Blog Articles, News, Projects, Publications, Podcast Episodes

Dr. Hans-Ulrich Wagner, Peter Kropsch and Dr. Peter Frey in armchairs in lively conversation in the light-flooded room with various groups of people in the background
"In the Service of News"

First Complete Account of the History of dpa Published

Hans-Ulrich Wagner has published the first scientifically sound and comprehensive account of the history of the German Press Agency (dpa).

Cover of the journal "Rechtstheorie"
Contribution to Legal Theory

On Tendencies towards the Multiplication and Dynamization of Law

In his article with the original German title "Von Kelsen zu Castells? Zu Tendenzen der Vervielfältigung und Dynamisierung des Rechts" in the journal Rechtstheorie, Tobias Mast deals with structural changes in the legal system and the actors involved.

Cover of the article "Interdisciplinary Architecture Modeling for Regulating Digital Business Ecosystems"
Interdisciplinary Architecture Modeling

Regulating Digital Business Ecosystems

This paper explores the question of how complex socio-technical ecosystems can be modeled using architectural methods.

Cover of the journal GRUR
Published now

Platform Law as EU Law

In his article in GRUR Int., Tobias Mast describes the peculiarities of platform law, which has been developing at European level for several years.

Kleines Mädchen hält Smartphone in den Händen.
Interdisciplinary BMBF Project

Security for Children in the Digital World

This project researches the legal framework for online interaction risks for children and young people and develops ways of optimally interlinking actors and measures.

The fingertips of a natural and a robotic hand touch each other
New DFG Research Unit

Automation of Social Communication

The HBI, the Centre for Media, Communication and Information Research (ZeMKI) at the University of Bremen and other research institutions in Graz and Vienna have successfully acquired a Research Unit from the German Research Foundation (DFG) on the topic of "Communicative Artificial Intelligence (ComAI)”.

funny mural of Einstein with his tongue out
Study on Public Service Media

ZDF’s Educational Mission

The Second German Television ZDF asked its audience what they understand by education and what expectations they have of ZDF. The HBI helped design the survey.

blurry redhead with cell phone
Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2024

More Perspectives Desired in the News

Two thirds (66 percent) of adult internet users in Germany expect the news media to offer them different perspectives on current topics, but less than half (43%) consider this to be well fulfilled.

Gruppenfoto Veranstaltungsteilnehmer*innen
14th Hamburg Media Symposium

​Resonance instead of Dissonance

About 200 experts and guests came to the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce on June 18th to discuss the drivers of social conversations and the challenges of current media communication.

Veranstaltungsteilnehmer*innen an Deck des Ausstellungsschiffs
Event for the Science Year 2024 – Freedom

Navigating Freedom – How Do We Protect Academic Freedom, Freedom of the Press and Freedom of Opinion?

On deck of the MS Wissenschaft, we held a public discussion on three fundamental values as cornerstones of our social coexistence: freedom of the press, freedom of opinion and academic freedom.

flying book with open pages
German Language Publication

Contemporary Methods of Children’s and Youth Media Research

Contemporary methods of children's and youth media research are the focus of issue 60 of the journal Medienpädagogik (in German), edited by Claudia Lampert, Jessica Kühn, Fabian Wiedel, Ada Fehr, Paulina Domdey and Kira Thiel.

Tobias Mast
Appointed to the Advisory Board

Tobias Mast Appointed to Advisory Board

Tobias Mast, head of the research program "Regulatory Structures and the Emergence of Rules in Online Spaces" at the HBI, has been appointed to the advisory board of the Coordination Office for Digital Services.

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