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Communication Studies

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  8. Media and Politics Atlas Germany

Media and Politics Atlas Germany

About the project:

What shapes the relationship between politics, media and public relations? How does the political sphere present itself to the public? And how does the media report on it? These and other questions are the focus of the longitudinal research study “Media and Politics Atlas Germany”, which is being conducted at the University of Bamberg. The study differs from other research on the topic due to its broad approach:

  • First, in addition to members of parliament and political journalists, PR professionals are also surveyed. This allows a comparison of different expectations and perspectives.
  • Second, the study surveys stakeholders at the EU, federal, state, and local levels. This enables a comparison across different levels of government.
  • Third, as a longitudinal study, the project can examine changes in the relationship between politics and the media. In addition, current issues are examined in the various survey waves.

1st survey wave 2015

In the media scandal surrounding former Lower Saxony Prime Minister Christian Wulff, there has been extensive discussion of the differences in the relationship between politics and journalism at the federal and state levels, which are characterized by a more informal interaction among politicians, journalists, and other members of the social elite than in many other state capitals—and especially in the federal capital. These differences remain a significant gap in the extensive and diverse research on the relationship between journalism and politics.
The study, which included 1,026 participating members of parliament and journalists, demonstrated that the narratives from the “Berliner Käseglocke” (“Berlin Cheese Dome”) appear to be largely anecdotal in nature. While the Media-Politics Atlas found that there are close relationships between journalists and politicians on both a professional and personal level, these do not influence the actors’ priorities: the public and voters are clearly the primary focus here.
With regard to the differences between the state and federal levels, no significant differences could be identified. While Berlin’s political scene may appear more glamorous and shrouded in mystery to many, in terms of the expectations of those involved, it differs only marginally from that in Saarbrücken and Erfurt. It seems likely—though this cannot be substantiated—that there has been a general convergence between the federal and state levels in recent years.

2nd survey wave 2020

For the second survey wave, the approach of the study has been expanded: it now includes press officers from parliamentary groups, political parties, and ministries, as well as the EU level (German representatives) and the local level (Cologne, Leipzig, and Frankfurt). The second survey focuses on issues of presentation and authenticity. The results were published in the course of 2021.

3rd survey wave 2024

The third wave of the survey in 2024 focuses on two main areas: First, we examine what modern political communication looks like and how it has changed. We also identify factors that allow us to assess what strategic political communication must entail in order to be as successful as possible. Second, we will explore the significance of framing practices and the influence of strategic ambiguity.

 

Awards:

Preis der Fritz Thyssen Stiftung für sozialwissenschaftliche Aufsätze, Zeitschriftenjahrgang 2021. Link: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11609-022-00490-w

Publications:

Hoffjann, Olaf / Lohse, Michael (2016): Medien-Politik-Atlas. Zentrale Befunde zu den Beziehungen zwischen Politikern und Journalisten auf Bundes- und Länderebene. Salzgitter: Ostfalia Hochschule. Link zur Summary (pdf).

Hoffjann, Olaf / Lohse, Michael (2016): ‚Berliner Käseglocke’ versus ‚Hannoveraner Verhältnisse’? Eine vergleichende Untersuchung der Beziehungen von Politik und Journalismus auf Bundes- und Länderebene. In: Medien & Kommunikationswissenschaft, 64, 2: 193-218. Link zur Studie (pdf)(305.7 KB).

Hoffjann, O., & Seeber, L. (2021). Auf dem Weg in die postfaktische Politik? Medien & Kommunikationswissenschaft, 69(4), 483–504. https://doi.org/10.5771/1615-634X-2021-4-483

Articles:

Wagner, G. (2021, Dezember 9). Postfaktische Demokratie? Bleiben wir bei den Fakten. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. https://www.faz.net/aktuell/karriere-hochschule/postfaktische-demokratie-hat-politik-noch-einen-bezug-zu-fakten-17671073.html

Project Directors:

Prof. Dr. Olaf Hoffjann and Lucas Seeber, M.A.