Research on media systems and media consumption

MiCT research is focused on the role of media in armed conflict and transformation. Our core skill in this area is the analysis of media structures, media perception and conflict coverage in post-authoritarian countries such as Iraq, Tunisia, and Libya. MiCT research is interested in how political transformation shapes media structures and how, vice versa, media is influencing the course of conflict and transformation.

MiCT increased its research activities in countries difficult to access, such as Mali and South Sudan and Sudan. In Mali, 1000 viewers were surveyed regarding their opinions about the state-operated television station, ORTM. In South Sudan's conflict-torn Jonglei state, citizens of all 12 counties were interviewed about their expectations regarding a newly established radio station. MiCT's research portfolio also contains analysis of media perception of refugees and migrants in Sub-Sahara Africa and of Iraq's and Libya's media landscape, as well as journalism research in South Sudan.

In order to understand the renewal of journalism culture in Iraq, TV debate shows on local broadcasters were analysed upfront elections in spring 2018. In 2019 a MiCT study compared coverage of  6 different Iraqi TV channels from the North and the South of Iraq in order to understand differences between Iraqi channels regarding selection and framing of topics pertaining to the South of Iraq.

MiCT co-organizes regularly international conferences such as: Observer, Agitator, Target: Media and Media Assistance in Fragile Contexts and The Silent Takeover - Media Capture in the 21st Century

Our research department is headed by Dr. Anja Wollenberg.