Medienstudie

Medienstudie is an academic field that analyzes the role of media in society. It investigates how media production, distribution and content interact with culture, politics and everyday life, as well as how audiences interpret and engage with media. The field integrates perspectives from the humanities and social sciences, including communication studies, sociology, cultural studies, political science and media economics.

Core topics include media theory and criticism, political economy of media, journalism studies, film and television studies, digital culture and platformisation, and the economics and policy of media industries. Research often examines issues such as representation, misinformation, media literacy, audience reception, and the impact of new technologies on journalism and public discourse.

Methodologically, medienstudie uses a range of approaches. Qualitative methods include discourse analysis, ethnography and case studies; quantitative methods include content analysis and surveys; increasingly, digital and computational methods are used to analyze large-scale media data and online participation.

In German-speaking countries, Medienstudie is commonly undertaken within Medienwissenschaft or Kommunikationswissenschaft programs, and may appear as a specialization or focus area. Graduates pursue careers in research, higher education, media industries, journalism, public institutions, non-profit organizations and cultural sectors, often with emphasis on media literacy, policy analysis and strategic communication.