What challenges does journalism face in Germany and worldwide? We work on a wide range of topics in the field of journalism research. Our focus is on journalism and its varied political, economic, social and cultural contexts.
Research Interests:
Journalism culture and comparative journalism research • Transformation of journalism • Journalism, precarity, and mental health
The Teaching and Research Unit is headed by Professor Thomas Hanitzsch since 2010.
In research and teaching, Professor Hanitzsch and his team emphasize an international, comparative and interdisciplinary approach. Thematically located at the intersection of political science, (social) psychology, and sociology, the team uses a full range of qualitative and quantitative research methods, including surveys, content analysis, experiments, and ethnographic analyses
The array of socially relevant topics covered by the Teaching and Research Unit is correspondingly broad. In addition to focusing on journalism cultures and comparative journalism research, topics include trust in the news, the eroding walls between journalism and advertising, the role of AI in everyday news, as well as precarization and mental health in journalism.
The Worlds of Journalism Study is a long-term international comparative research project coordinated by LMU Munich. The study’s objective is to better understand the changes that are taking place in journalism.
Further information about the project: Worlds of Journalism Study
Duration: 04/2021 - 09/2025
Leadership: Prof. Dr. Thomas Hanitzsch
Financial support: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)
The project provides the first findings on the psychosocial health of German journalists based on an online survey of over 1,300 media professionals.
Duration: 04/2024 - open
Leadership: Prof. Dr. Thomas Hanitzsch
The project addresses challenges for media and democracy in digital media environments by utilizing an interdisciplinary approach to analyze journalism, political economy, media regulation, and media consumption in eight European countries.
Further information about the project: Resilient Media for Democracy in the Digital Age
Duration: 03/2023 - 02/2026
Leadership: Prof. Dr. Thomas Hanitzsch
Financial support: Horizon Europe
The project examines the effects of precarious employment conditions on journalists and their work, as well as the corresponding adjustments they make. The study explores these questions by means of a standardised survey of over 1,000 journalists and guided interviews with media professionals in Germany.
Duration: 07/2019 - 10/2024
Leadership: Prof. Dr. Thomas Hanitzsch
Financial support: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)
More information coming soon!
The project examines socio-economic inequality in journalism and its role in public discourse by comparing the perspectives of a representative sample of professional journalists with those of the general public.
Duration: 10/2024 - 09/2025
Leadership: Dr. Andreas A. Riedl
Financial Support: Otto Brenner Stiftung (OBS)
Negotiation and appropriation of generative AI & their interactions with journalistic practices.
Ongoing dissertation project by Victoria Ertelthalner-Nikolaev
Ongoing dissertation project by Jana Rick
Media Trust in China
Ongoing dissertation project by Du Ke
Professor
Journalism research • journalism culture • comparative methodology
Academic Staff
Innovation • Adoption • Media & Journalism
Academic Staff
Comparative journalism research • Public perception of journalism • Diversity in journalism
Academic Staff
Precarity in Journalism • Working conditions in Journalism • Local Journalism
Academic Staff
Inequality and (Gender) Diversity • Journalism and Democracy • Political Journalism
Academic Staff
Journalism studies • trust research • safety in the context of journalism
Academic Staff
Political communication • Crisis and conflict communication • Computational communication • Mediation of humanitarianism