Communication and media are indispensable elements of society and interact with it: Only through communication can people form relationships with one another, and only through media can they maintain this communication across spatial or temporal distances and include groups of varying sizes. When communication practices or media structures and logics change, this therefore has a direct impact on our social interactions. At the same time, changes in media and communication are themselves always the result of social negotiation and social conditions.<\/p>\n
The program area \u201cSocial Functions of Communication and Media\u201d examines the conditions, processes, structures, and consequences of this interrelationship:<\/p>\n
The program area comprises six research groups, each representing a different approach to these questions. They examine the functions of communication and media in society from various perspectives, taking an interdisciplinary and methodologically diverse approach, and frequently adopting a long-term (historical) perspective while focusing on moments of transformation. Working both individually and collaboratively, they address key scholarly questions and provide society with guidance in times of rapid change and multiple crises.<\/p>\n
The following six research groups operate within Program Area 1:<\/p>\n