Research in the Department of Communication examines the transformations of norms and institutions that shape and govern media and communication. In focus are social, cultural, political, economic, and historical developments underlying and shaped by such processes. Our study observes the objects of media policy, content and control, matters of technical infrastructure and technological development, as well as matters regulating the relationship of the media with authorities and the market. We draw upon and contribute to multiple disciplinary agendas, from legal studies, sociology, political sciences, anthropology and history. We examine structures, processes, practices, and discourses as well as their role in power relations on the macro-, meso- and micro-levels.

Our research is organized around several intersecting themes, including media governance, audiovisual policy, ethics in journalism, public service media, spectrum policy, platform regulation, privacy and surveillance, copyright, and gender & media policy.

• Media Governance
  We investigate intersections and interfaces between media industries and media governance and their impact on the exercise of political, cultural, economic and social citizenship. We approach media governance as the sum of processes, institutions and values that form a policy 'regime', which may or may not involve regulatory or 'hard law' elements. Our research explores how changes and continuities in the media industries and their technological and political-economic dimensions are impacted upon by media governance practices and values in their national, local, translocal and global dimensions. Moreover, we extend our investigation to connect the micro and meso levels of citizenship and everyday life to the governance of macrolevel communication and cultural industry structures.

• Media Credibility
  We observe the theoretical implications of "Fake News" for our field, the occurrence of the term in public debate, as well as its effects on citizens.

• Transformations of Journalism
  We are concerned with the interdisciplinary study of journalism and its interaction with societal fields across different cultural contexts, employing qualitative and quantitative approaches. We study the transformations of journalism and journalism education against the background of political, economic, technological and cultural influences.