About
Patrick Donges is a Professor of Communication Science at the Institute of Communication and Media Studies at the University of Leipzig since April 2016. He currently serves as Vice Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Philosophy since October 2019. Previously, he was Managing Director of the Institute of Communication and Media Studies from April 2019 to April 2021. Before joining the University of Leipzig, he held professorships at the University of Greifswald and worked at various academic institutions including the University of Zurich, University of Salzburg, University of Vienna, and the Free University of Berlin.
Education:
- Studied Political Science and Journalism at the University of Hamburg (October 1990 - May 1995)
- Doctorate in Journalism at the University of Zurich (September 2001)
- Habilitation in Journalism at the University of Zurich (October 2007)
Professor Donges' research focuses on political communication, media structures and media policy, theories of communication science, and organizational communication. His work approaches the transformation of communication, media, and society from a structural and process-related perspective. He investigates the structural conditions, institutional rules, and social consequences of communication with varying degrees of publicness and through different media forms. His research particularly emphasizes how political communication functions within evolving media landscapes, how media structures are politically shaped, and how communication operates within and between groups and organizations. Donges applies theoretical frameworks to practical communication challenges, guided by Kurt Lewin's principle that "Nothing is as practical as a good theory."
His recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on political communication in digital environments, media policy, and the structural aspects of communication processes. Donges examines how digital platforms reshape traditional center-periphery dynamics in public discourse and investigates governance mechanisms for online communication. His work bridges theoretical communication frameworks with practical applications in media policy and organizational communication contexts.
Research Projects:
- Fachmedien und Fachöffentlichkeiten in der politischen Kommunikation (2015-2019) - Funded by DFG
- Etablierung des Schwerpunktes "Entwicklungskommunikation" (2018-2021)
- Handbuchreihe Unternehmenskommunikation (2017-2022) - Involving Strategic Communication, Communication Science, and Communication Management
Professor Donges teaches courses on theories of communication science, the German media system, communication and media ethics, group and organizational communication, theories of the public sphere, and political organizations. His teaching philosophy emphasizes the practical value of theoretical frameworks in understanding communication processes and distinguishing sustainable changes from temporary trends in media and communication landscapes.
