Media studies in Germany and modern approaches to analysing communication in the digital environment

This study aimed to examine the theoretical foundations, institutional architecture, and empirical evidence characterising contemporary German communication studies in their response to digital transformation. The research employed a comprehensive analytical framework combining theoretical synthesis, comparative institutional analysis, and systematic analysis of empirical findings from major German media research centres and recent national surveys. The investigation revealed that German communication studies had undergone profound structural transformation since the mid-1990s, shifting from traditional mass communication focus toward analysing hybrid-media communication systems. The networked institutional architecture, exemplified by the Centre for Media, Communication and Information Research at the University of Bremen, the Leibniz Institute for Media Research in Hamburg, and the Department of Media and Communication at Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, demonstrated strategic interdisciplinary integration addressing algorithmic systems, datafication, and social inequalities. Analysis of the Digital News Report 2025 for Germany revealed that while linear television remains the dominant news source for the general population, internet sources are rapidly approaching comparable levels of importance, and social media platforms have become primary news channels for youth audiences. Trust in news in Germany remains moderately high, with 45% of the adult online population believing most news is generally trustworthy, while public service news and local newspapers enjoy the highest levels of trust. However, the use of AI in journalism is met with significant resistance, as 54% of respondents feel uncomfortable with news produced primarily by AI, reflecting strong preference for human editorial agency. The study identified critical methodological challenges, including the necessity of adapting traditional content analysis to computational methods and establishing new ethical criteria for datafication research, alongside a significant professional skills gap among young journalists in essential digital competencies. These findings provide intellectual foundation for normative digital policy development, positioning German scholarship as a key contributor to value-oriented approaches in global digital governance, particularly emphasising democratic resilience and social consequences over purely technological innovation in addressing digital transformation