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 des Arbeitspapiers Rechtsextreme auf Social Media
Report for Download

Online-Communication of the Extreme Right in Times of Crisis

The report sheds light on the current challenges posed by (digital) right-wing extremism in the context of the COVID-19 crisis and the 2021 federal election.

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New Book

How Social Media Shape Political Action

How does social media change opinion-forming and political engagement? How do politicians use social media? Jan-Hinrik Schmidt addresses these questions in the newly published book.

Cover der Zeitschrift BzKJAktuell
Digital Media Environments

News Usage, Opinion Formation and the Orientation to Information of Young People

In their article in BPJMAKTUELL, Sascha Hölig and Leonie Wunderlich write about news use, opinion formation and the orientation of young people towards information in digital media environments.

Cover der Zeitschrift "merz", Ausgabe 2022/01.
merz Issue Focusing on Health

Digital Health Practices of Children and Young People

Claudia Lampert, together with Christa Gebel, served as content editor for Issue 2022/01 of the journal *merz | medien + erziehung*, which focused on the theme “Media and Health,” and authored an article titled “Digital Health Practices Among Children and Adolescents: Added Value or Risk?”

Cover: Abschlussreport "The Ethics of Digitalization"
Concluding Report

After two years of research into the ethical challenges of digitalization and strategies for addressing them, the international, interdisciplinary team of researchers has now published its final report. The team included Wolfgang Schulz, Matthias C. Kettemann, Martin Fertmann, and Vincent Hofmann.

Vorschau eines Artikels von Leonie Wunderlich
News Consumption

Young people are quite critical of influencers when it comes to their subjective presentation of newsworthy information. They expect journalists to be neutral above all. This is what the #UseTheNews study found out during group discussions with teenagers and young adults.

Deckblatt des Artikels "Not all who are bots are evil: 
A cross-platform analysis of 
automated agent governance"
A Model for Future Success?

The “European Strategy for a Better Internet for Children”: A Successful Model with a Future?!

Stephan Dreyer takes stock of the impact of the BIK strategy in the member states and the policy framework for children's online safety in Europe, and looks ahead to the future of the EU's plans in this area.

Cover der Publikation "Journalismus und Instagram"
Instagram instead of the news?

The Role of Social Media in News Usage. On Opportunities and Risks

An article by Sascha Hölig and Leonie Wunderlich highlights the role of social media regarding the use of news in an anthology on journalism and Instagram.

Cover des Arbeitspapiers
Statement

Written Opinion on the Discussion Draft on the Mission and Structural Optimisation of Public Service Broadcasting

Valerie Rhein, Stephan Dreyer, and Wolfgang Schulz welcome the states’ draft amendment to the State Media Treaty, which aims to further increase the flexibility of public broadcasting’s mandate and provide broadcasters with processes to further define that mandate.

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#UseTheNews

The Role of Journalistic and non-Journalistic Sources in Young Peoples’ News Related Practices

Leonie Wunderlich, Sascha Hölig and Uwe Hasebrink write about journalistic and non-journalistic sources in young people's news consumption in their recently published article in The International Journal for Press/Politics.

Buchcover "Arbeitswelt und KI 2030"
Book chapter

Legal Requirements for AI Decisions in Administration and Justice

In this anthology, Johannes Schmees and Stephan Dreyer describe the current guidelines governing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in public administration and the judiciary, and offer cautious reflections on the direction in which the government’s use of AI might evolve.

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Article in Journal for Legislation

Publicity of Laws in the Age of Networking

Tobias Mast examines the constitutional significance of access to legal norms and develops proposals for a modern legal information portal based on database and search engine logics.

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