Former Research: Weizenbaum Institute, Research Group 15 "Digitalisation and the Transnational Public Sphere"

Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Barbara Pfetsch, Research Group Lead: Dr. Annett Heft

The research group investigates the impact of digital technologies and media in the formation of transnational and national online issue publics, communication infrastructures and processes of political mobilization. We focus on right-wing and populist-right communication ecologies which develop ...

SFB: Re-Figuration of Spaces

Prof. Dr. Barbara Pfetsch

Jan 01, 2018 — Dec 31, 2025

DFG-Funded Research Project “Translocal Networks II: Contested Spaces and Climate Justice on Social Media” at the Institute for Media and Communication Studies During the first funding period (2018-2021), our project investigated the spatial arrangements of public spheres, ...

Weizenbaum-Institute: Research Group: "Dynamics of Digital Mobilization"

Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Barbara Pfetsch, Research Group Lead: Dr. Annett Heft

Sep 15, 2022 — Sep 15, 2025

The research group investigates the logics and interrelationship of digital information infrastructures, (transnational) mobilizations in networked digital publics, the dynamics of diffusion and manipulation of information under conditions of automation and algorithmic control, and the quality of public debates in Europe and on an international scale.

DIFFCONT: Diffusion dynamics of conspiracy theories

Dr. Annett Heft

Jan 01, 2022 — Dec 31, 2024

About the project Under the direction of Dr Annett Heft, a new research project has been dealing with the diffusion dynamics of conspiracy theories and adaptation strategies in hybrid information spaces since April 2022. The project is part of the consortium project NEOVEX, which is funded ...

WealthTalks: The (Re-)Production of Wealth Inequality in Everyday Talk

Dr. David Schieferdecker, Prof. Dr. Chana Teeger Prof. Dr. Flavio Alex de Oliveira Carvalhaes Prof. Dr. Jonathan Mijs Prof. Dr. Jeremy Seekings

Oct 01, 2023 — Sep 30, 2027

About the project Why does the public oppose wealth inequality but not support measures to change the distribution of wealth? WealthTalks offers a novel perspective on the production and reproduction of wealth by examining how ordinary citizens discuss wealth and inequality in everyday ...

Analysis National Dialogue

Prof. Dr. Barbara Pfetsch

Apr 01, 2015 — Oct 26, 2016

A team of researchers of the division communication theory and media effects is currently analyzing the data of the national dialogue on well-being and the quality of life launched by the German government. Between April and October 2015, citizens discussed their thoughts on the quality of life ...

Political Agenda-Building

Prof. Dr. Silke Adam , Prof. Dr. Barbara Pfetsch, W. Lance Bennett Prof. Dr. Gerhard Heyer

Nov 01, 2011 — Dec 31, 2014

Sub-Project 7 of  the DFG research group "political communication in the online-world" in Berlin First project phase (2011-2014): The impact of challengers’ online communication on media agenda-building – a comparison across countries and issues.

Political Communication Cultures in Western Europe - A Comparative Study

Prof. Dr. Barbara Pfetsch

Jan 01, 2007 — Dec 31, 2009

Part of the European Collaborative Research Projects in the Social Sciences (ECRP) The project is a comparative study which aims at analysing the relationship between political elites and the media in nine Western European countries. The objective is to investigate the attitudes, norms and ...