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

Cover der Publikation "Better Internet for Kids (BIK) Policy Map 2023"
Fourth Edition

The Better Internet for Kids Policy Map

The fourth edition of the Better Internet for Kids (BIK) Policy Map provides an overview of the implementation of the “European Strategy for a Better Internet for Kids” (BIK Strategy) in the EU member states, as well as in Iceland and Norway. The findings are organized according to the three pillars of the BIK+ Strategy: “safe digital experiences,” “digital empowerment,” and “active participation.”

Illustration einer Lupe, von Puzzlesteinen, Netzwerken
EU Cooperation Project

Children Online: Research and Evidence

As part of the project, the knowledge platform core-evidence.eu was created, which provides a comprehensive and, at the same time, contextualised overview of the research situation about the effects of the digital transformation on children and young people in Europe.

Eine Frau mit Maske zeigt einer Seniorin etwas auf dem Samrtphone
Cooperation Health Communication

Digitally Healthy – Fit for Apps and the Internet

What experiences do older people have with digital health services, and how can their digital health literacy be improved? The HBI has done a study on this as part of a transdisciplinary project.

Eine Welle bricht.
New Research Project!

Capacities and Competences in Dealing with Hate Speech and Hostility towards Science (KAPAZ)

The “Capacities and Competences in Dealing with Hate Speech and Hostility towards Science (KAPAZ)” research consortium aims to gain new empirical insights into the prevalence of hostility and derogatory behavior toward scientists in Germany.

Vier junge Mädchen schauen in ein Handy und in ein Tablet
Dealing with Online Risks

The Youth Media Protection Index 2022

Children are increasingly exposed to online risks, prompting growing concerns among parents about their children's online safety. These are some of the findings of the 2022 Youth Media Protection Index, compiled by the HBI and JFF on behalf of the Voluntary Self-Regulation of Multimedia Service Providers (FSM).

Cover Jugendmedienschutzindex 2022
Full study as a brochure

The Youth Media Protection Index 2022

Parents’ concerns about their children’s online safety are on the rise. Children and adolescents are increasingly exposed to online risks. These are the findings of the 2022 Youth Media Protection Index, which has now been published as a brochure. HBI researchers Claudia Lampert, Stephan Dreyer, and Kira Thiel contributed to the study.

Cover Zeitschrift
Child and Youth Protection in Theory and Practice

Children’s and Adolescents’ Online Behavior During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Claudia Lampert and Kira Thiel conducted research on how young people structured their online activities during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and how their parents dealt with the situation, and they wrote about their findings in the journal "Kinder- und Jugendschutz in Wissenschaft und Praxis" (Child and Youth Protection in Science and Practice).

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Anthology

100 Years of Radio in Germany

Hans-Ulrich Wagner writes about radio personalities and their careers in his contribution to the anthology "100 Years of Radio in Germany", which has been published by the Federal Agency for Civic Education (bpb).

Paper:
Peer-reviewed Paper

Boundary Detection and Categorization of Argument Aspects via Supervised Learning

In a conference paper, Mattes Ruckdeschel and Dr. Gregor Wiedemann describe analytical methods for the automatic identification of argument aspects used to categorize pro and con arguments by content.

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Transparency in Automated Decision-Making Processes

Transparency or Opacity

Martin Fertmann, together with Simone Kuhlmann, Fabrizio De Gregorio, Hannah Ofterdinger, and Anton Sefkow, has edited an anthology of legal articles addressing the issue of transparency in automated decision-making processes.

Cover des Arbeitspapiers  Social Media Content Creator
Working Paper Nr. 64 for Download

Social Media Content Creators from the Perspective of Their Young Followers

Teens and young adults specifically follow influencers to stay informed—social media content creators serve various roles in this process and play a significant role in shaping public opinion.

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Book Chapter

Parliamentary Groups and Members of Parliament

Tobias Mast writes in his contribution to the new Handbook of the Law of State Expression about the legal competencies and boundaries for parliamentary groups and members of parliament when communicating publicly in their official role.

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