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

Johanna Sebauer
Congratulations!

Two prizes for Johanna Sebauer

Johanna Sebauer won two awards at this year's Bachmann competition with her highly comical text "Gurkerl": the 3sat Prize (7,000 euros) and the BKS Bank Audience Award, endowed with 7,000 euros plus a 6,000 euro city writing scholarship in Klagenfurt, Austria.

Hand tippt auf Smartphone
How do software systems affect user behavior?

Software Systems, the Public and Participation

The aim of this project is to develop a communication-sociological approach to the relationship between software systems, the public sphere and participation.

Fußspuren im Sand
Collaborative Project

Information Environments Online and the Polarization of Political Opinions

What is the interplay between the diversity of our information exposure online and the polarization of our political opinions towards certain issues or groups over time?

Lichtinstallation: Weiße Quader schweben in dunkelblauem Raum
Volkswagen Foundation Funds Joint Project

Informing Regulatory Reasoning on Algorithmic Systems in Societal Communication with STEAM

The project, which is located between media law and computer science, aims to use a new method to visualize the functioning of news distribution on digital platforms and thus offer media regulation opportunities for new regulatory approaches.

Cover M&K 1/2024
Issue 1/2024 M&K published

Issue 1/2024 M&K published

All content of M&K is available open access in the Nomos-Verlag eLibrary.

Äpfel in einer Sortiermaschine
New Methods in Automated Content Analysis

Few-Shot Learning in Communication Science

The cooperation project transfers computer science methods to empirical communication science. Semi-automated content analyses can thus also examine vast amounts of data.

KI geniertes Bild von einer jungen Frau, die mit einer jiungen Ärtzin am Tisch vor einem Tablett sitzt und beraten wird
Health Communication

Fertility and Ethics in Oncology

On behalf of the German Cancer Aid, this cooperative project investigates how younger patients with newly diagnosed cancer can be optimally counseled in dealing with fertility issues.

Schloss Schwerin
Telephone Survey

Media Use and Political Culture in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

The study aims to provide an overview of politically oriented media use and political culture in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern as well as to develop strategies to improve outreach to population groups that largely avoid news.

Zeitung, Notizbuch mit Stift, Mobiltelefon, Kaffeebecher und Sonnenbrill auf einem Holztisch
International Study on News Usage

Reuters Institute Digital News Report

The annual international representative survey conducted by the Reuters Institute in Oxford examines news usage and reveals general trends and national characteristics of developments. The Leibniz Institute for Media Research is conducting the German part of the study.

Mensch steht auf grauem Grund in der Mitte einer runden Spielfeldmarkierung. Er wirft einen langen Schatten.
Human in the Machine

Human In the Loop? Autonomy and Automation in Socio-Technical Systems

The research project Human in the Loop? investigates how human participation can improve automated decision-making processes.

Dunkler Serverraum
For a Secure Data Exchange

Data Portal Right-Wing Extremism

A research data infrastructure is to be further developed for the "Data Portal for Research on Racism and Right-Wing Extremism".

Kunden an Blumenstand auf einem Markt
Project within the RISC

Integration-Related Remit and Functions of Public Service Media

Are public service media legally obliged to create social cohesion? And how is the integration-related performance of these media perceived?

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