Research Profile in Communication Studies

The Chair of Communication Studies deals with questions and problems of interpersonal, media and public communication. It investigates the sociological foundations of human communication and the structural conditions of social communication against the backdrop of profound media change (digitalisation, networking, platformisation, commercialisation). The focus is on communication and public sphere theories and the transformation of media systems, as well as questions of communication and media ethics.

The staff conduct research in areas such as

  • Communication and media theory, communication ethics and media quality, as well as media structures (Prof. Dr. Klaus Beck)
  • Interpersonal communication theory, communication and conflict management skills, communication ethics, rhetorical communication (Dr. Henriette Mehlan [de])
  • Media reception and entertainment, media and communication sociology, online platforms and digital communitarisations (Alexander Rihl M.A. [de])
  • Media impact, media ethics and media system research, as well as populist communication (Julia Höflich M.A. [de])

Prof. Dr. Klaus Beck has led several projects on journalistic quality and DFG projects on the development of the regional press and the variety of its reporting (1995-2015) as well as on media biographies. His research focuses primarily on issues related to the development of journalistic quality and ethics under changing structural conditions. He advises state media authorities on issues relating to the promotion of local journalism.

Dr Henriette Mehlan is currently working on a textbook on interpersonal communication and the question of structural conditions and individual prerequisites for ‘good’ communication.

Alexander Rihl is working on an extension of Pierre Bourdieu's social theory considerations in order to adapt them for the analysis of media reception and media use. The focus is on the concept of habitus, here as media habitus with specific forms of capital, as well as field-theoretical considerations that also understand media use as a practice of distinction.

Julia Höflich's doctoral research looks into the populist potential of the media system. The focus of this research is self-critical media criticism, which will be examined in an exploratory analysis with regard to its populist characteristics.

The Chair of Communication Studies with a Focus on Communication Ethics looks into issues related to general communication studies and examines the normative premises and consequences of (mediatised) interpersonal communication and public media communication. The Chair looks into communication ethics during times of media transition (mediatisation, digitalisation and AI). At the same time, it approaches the question of how long-term changes in media, communication and public life are linked to ethical reflections on communication and media from a communication history perspective.

The staff conduct research on topics including

The Chair of Communication Science with a Focus on Organisational Communication conducts research projects on communication by, within and about organisations. In particular, it addresses the question as to how organisations deal with contradictions between ideals and reality in communication, e.g. between morality and deception, power and powerlessness, or social responsibility and economic interests. Using theory and empirical research, the Chair investigates the expectations placed on organisations and their communication, the strategies used by those responsible for communication, and how organisations' communication influences social developments, public opinion and internal cooperation.

The staff members conduct research on topics such as