News
Reports, Publications, Projects, Blog Posts & Podcasts from the Institute
![Screenshot of an article on the Verfassungsblog. Title of the article: “Ein rundfunkrechtliches ‘Solange’?” [An “As Long As" in Broadcasting Law?]](https://leibniz-hbi-de.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Verfassungsblog-Mast-Schulz-OeRR.jpg)
An “As Long As” in Broadcasting Law?
In an article, Dr. Tobias Mast and Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schulz discuss the Federal Constitutional Court's decision on the constitutionality of the broadcasting license fee. Their analysis is based on the press release published by the Federal Administrative Court on October 15, 2025.
Ways Out of Digital Numbness
Matthias C. Kettemann is a guest on the podcast “Carls Future” by futurologist Michael Carl. During the interview, Kettemann discusses the challenges and opportunities of the digital information society. Kettemann observes a communicative overload that weakens our "cognitive immune system."
Expert Opinion on Children’s Rights and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
In his expert opinion, "The AI Regulation, Its Relationship to Children’s Rights in the Digital Space, and Options for Advocacy Approaches," media lawyer Stephan Dreyer examines how the children’s rights enshrined in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights are addressed in the regulation.
Tobias Mast Re-elected as Member of the Advisory Board
Tobias Mast has once again been elected by the German Bundestag to the advisory board of the Coordination Office for Digital Services (Digital Services Coordinators (DSC)) at the Federal Network Agency. He will advise the regulatory authority on issues relating to the application and enforcement of the Digital Services Act as a representative of academia.
Do We Still Need Public Broadcasting?
Jan-Hinrik Schmidt is a guest on the science podcast ‘Tonspur Wissen’ by Rheinische Post and Leibniz Association, where he talks with host Ursula Weidenfeld about the findings of the recently published cohesion study by ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio.
Challenges Faced by Public Service Broadcasting
ARD is celebrating its 75th anniversary and looking back on the past and ahead to the future in the program "DAS! Rote Sofa" with ARD Chairman and hr Director Florian Hager. In a film clip, media historian Dr Hans-Ulrich Wagner illustrates the challenges that have shaped public broadcasting, and continue to do so today.
Dialogue Formats in Public Service Media
What contribution can public service media make in the digital age as a platform for social dialogue? This future workshop will use scientific methods to develop scenarios and strategies for sustainable dialogue formats in digitalised societies.
Congratulations, Azade Kakavand!
We are delighted for Azade Kakavand! On September 19, she successfully defended her dissertation, "Technology Affordances, Social Media Platforms, and the Networked Far Right," at the University of Vienna. Prof. Dr. Annie Waldherr and Prof. Dr. Nicola Righetti supervised the dissertation. Dr. Eva Mayerhöffer and Prof. Dr. Thorsten Quandt served as the examiners.
Social Media: Harmful Enough to Require a Minimum Age?
Stephan Dreyer was a guest on the ARD podcast Die Justizreporter*innen, where he discussed social media bans for children and young people with reporters Egzona Hyseni and Philip Raillon. He warns against disproportionate interventions and emphasizes the ambivalent role of parents and the danger of negative side effects.
Event dates
News Usage between Routine and Avoidance
4. November 2025How do people get their information today? Is news consumption characterized more by trust or skepticism? Who avoids the news, and why? What consequences does this have for editorial offices? As part of Hamburg Press Freedom Week, Dr. Leonie Alatassi and Julia Behre will discuss these questions with Hamburg-based journalists.
Is Journalism in a Crisis of Confidence?
5. November 2025Julia Behre discusses with Katharina Weiß (Reporters Without Borders), Malte Werner (Netzwerk Recherche) and Omid Rezaee (DIE ZEIT) whether journalism is in a crisis of confidence.
How Does Social Media Affect Voting Decisions?
6. November 2025Prof. Dr. Judith Möller will open the 2025 fall conference of the German Association for Political Education (DVPB) with a presentation on the topic: “(How) Does Social Media Affect Voting Decisions and Political Systems of Government?”
Digitalisation Research and Network Meeting 2025
6. November 2025The DigiMeet 2025 digitisation research and network meeting takes place online this year. It focuses on the topic of “Platform Governance & Power”. The interdisciplinary event aims to provide a forum for young researchers focusing on digitalization.
Journalism, Influencing, Lies: The Rules of (Dis)Information
6. November 2025Anna von Garmissen and Jan Rau discuss the rules, self-image and logic of analogue and digital media with media practitioners. How is reliable information created? Who shapes public discourse, and how?
#LeibnizMediaLunchTalk
Fighting the Fortress with Arrows.
Civil Enforceability of Due Diligence Obligations for Large Online Services
11. November 2025
We welcome Dr. Katharina Wunner from the University of Bayreuth to this Leibniz Media Lunch Talk. She will speak about the civil enforceability of due diligence obligations for very large online services under Article 54 of the Digital Services Act (DSA).
Media History Lunch Talks
19. November 2025The international research network Entangled Media Histories (EMHIS), of which the HBI is a partner, has organized an online seminar program on topics in media history for the fall. This semester, the focus is on memory, activism, and technology.
What Responsibility Do Platforms Bear for Young People’s Body Image?
27. November 2025Dr. Stephan Dreyer will give a presentation on “What Responsibility Do Platforms Bear for Young People’s Body Image?” at the 8th Media Competence Network Conference in Saxony-Anhalt.