Journalism, Media and Globalisation Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich

Overview

The Journalism, Media and Globalisation programme at Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich offers a variety of conceptual approaches and methodological procedures for the analysis of journalism and media across societies and cultures. At its core, the programme combines a comparative perspective with instruction in innovative research designs and data collection techniques (e.g. Qualitative Comparative Analysis, large-N comparative studies, and Multilevel Modelling) to allow a better understanding of journalism in a global world.

The programme addresses these issues:

• Societal issues: Different contexts produce different forms of journalism. In many scenarios, journalism’s relevance, which is linked to its legitimacy as a democratic force, is increasingly questioned. As a result, journalists are increasingly under attack and fear for their safety in both Western and non-Western societies.
• Market issues: Just as national economic environments differ widely, so do journalistic business models. They range from purely commercial and revenue-based systems to systems dependent to varying degrees on state funding and public subsidies.
• Technological issues: Reporting on transnational issues requires technologies that allow long-distance collaboration between journalists and the maintenance of an international network of sources. Tools and software are an essential part of cross-border journalism, and ultimately shape the practices and mindsets of practitioners.