News
Contributions of the Institute for Media and Communication Studies at the ICA Conference 2026
Feb 18, 2026 | Institute for Media and Communication Studies
Contributions of the Institute for Media and Communication Studies at the ICA Conference 2026
Feb 18, 2026 | Institute for Media and Communication Studies
Fellow Talk by Mike S. Schäfer at the Weizenbaum Institute
Jan 20, 2026 | Digitalization and Participation
International Recognition: Prof. Christian von Sikorski Appointed Associate Editor of Leading U.S. Journal
Jan 06, 2026 | Media Effects
Special issue on understanding and addressing biases in computational social science published in CMM
The special issue is published in Communication Methods and Measures, the leading international journal for empirical methods in communication.
Dec 11, 2025 | Digital Research Methods
New Publication: Colonial Memories and Post-Colonial Silences
With Colonial Memories and Post-Colonial Silences: The Herero and Nama Genocide in German and Namibian Journalism, Christina Haritos presents her dissertation on how journalism produces memories of colonial violence. The book centers on the genocide of the Herero and Nama, over which the German and Namibian governments have been negotiating possible reparations since 2014—so far without success. The analysis vividly illustrates how journalism shapes the conditions of visibility and invisibility, revealing the power structures that are challenged or reinforced in the process.
Dec 09, 2025 | Journalism Studies
New Publication: merzWissenschaft 2025 on the topic “Media and Emotions”
The new merzWissenschaft Yearbook 2025 focuses on the topic of “Media and Emotions.” Edited by Margreth Lünenborg and Katrin Döveling, the volume opens with an editorial that outlines current developments in emotion and affect research within media and communication studies.
Nov 19, 2025 | Journalism Studies
New Publication: „Shame must change sides: Affective media practices and the Mazan rape cases on TikTok“
The rise of digital platforms has transformed feminist activism, reshaping how sexualized violence is discussed, witnessed, and challenged. In a new article published in Media, Culture & Society , our colleagues Annabella Backes , Margreth Lünenborg , and Kerstin Schankweiler examine responses to the Mazan rape cases on TikTok, focusing on survivor Gisèle Pelicot’s powerful statement: “Shame must change sides.”
Oct 29, 2025 | Journalism Studies
New special issue on “Diversity, Intersectionality, and Gender in Journalism”
Following the conference of the groups “Media, Public Sphere, and Gender” and “Journalism/Journalism Research,” M&K has published a special issue.
Sep 02, 2025 | Journalism Studies
“Then journalism fundamentally delegitimizes itself.”
Prof. Lünenborg was a guest on Deutschlandfunk radio. There she spoke about the representation of migrants in journalism and warned against journalism that fails to take migration processes into account and enable a view of society as a whole.
Aug 14, 2025 | Journalism Studies
4th DiMES Workshop on Qualitative Text Analysis
The 2-day workshop was taught by Prof. Audrey Alejandro (London School of Economics and Political Science).
Jul 28, 2025 | Digital Research Methods
New Publication: Affective Dynamics in #MyBodyMyChoice Memetic Performances on TikTok
A new article by Margreth Lünenborg and Annabella Backes has been published as part of the special issue “Public Emotions and the Affective Forces of Social Activism” of the journal Javnost – The Public .
Jul 07, 2025 | Journalism Studies
Article on the effect of sexism on women’s participation in political online discussions published in Communication Research
This study tests whether seeing female politicians in the news encourages other women to participate in online discussions, or if the sexist backlash they receive has the opposite effect. Our experiment reveals that sexist comments are a powerful deterrent that increases women's fear and lowers their confidence, while the presence of a female role model alone provides no significant boost to participation.
Jul 01, 2025 | Digital Research Methods
New Publication: Special Issue on Social Media Influencers and Political Communication
Jun 17, 2025 | Media Effects
Cosmopolitan Communication Studies – New Open Access book out now!
May 12, 2025 | International Communication
How contradiction can be explored in the discourse around Rammstein
The journal Publizistik has published another article on the theorization and research of media practices of contradiction in networked public spheres.
Apr 23, 2025 | Journalism Studies
