Prof. Dr. Peter Vorderer is a full professor of Media and Communication Studies at the University of Mannheim's Philosophical Faculty, leading the Institute for Media and Communication Studies. He holds a PhD from TU Berlin and has held professorships at institutions such as the University of Toronto, USC's Annenberg School, and the Free University of Amsterdam since 2010. His research focuses on media psychology, exploring media effects, entertainment media narratives, and the pervasive role of digital connectivity in everyday life. Education includes studies at Heidelberg and Mannheim Universities, with additional training at NYU and the University of Michigan. He has served as editor for Zeitschrift für Medienpsychologie and Media Psychology , and as President of the International Communication Association (2014-2015). His work bridges psychological and societal impacts of media, emphasizing entertainment's cognitive and emotional dimensions. Key research themes include media-induced resonance theory, mobile communication's psychological effects, and digital dependency. His 15 most recent articles (2014-2020) reveal a focus on media's role in well-being, social behavior, and cognitive processing. Awards include ICA Fellowship (2016). His lab contributes to understanding media's dual hedonic/eudaimonic functions and their societal implications.
Prof. Dr. M. Bjørn von Rimscha is a full-time Professor of Media Economics at the Department of Social Sciences, Media and Sport, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. He serves as Prodekan for Studium und Lehre since 2023 and previously held leadership roles including Geschäftsführender Leiter of the Institute for Journalism. His research focuses on media economics, digital transformation, advertising markets, and cross-border media management. Positions: Professor (2015–present), Prodekan (2023–present) Education: Freie Universität Berlin, University of Ulster Key Collaborations: Co-edited De Gruyter Handbook of Media Economics (2024), Handbuch Medienökonomie (2021) His recent work examines digital disruption in media industries, payment models for journalism, and the economic value of creativity. He advises PhD students like Robin Riemann and holds editorial roles at the Journal of Media Business Studies . Contact: b.vonrimscha@uni-mainz.de
Prof. Dr. Ute Fendler holds the Chair of Romance Literature and Comparative Studies with Special Emphasis on Africa at the University of Bayreuth. Her academic journey includes a 2006 Habilitation and 1992 PhD from Saarland University, with research spanning Francophone African literatures , intermedial phenomena , and postcolonial cinematic analysis . She coordinates the Bayreuth Academy of Advanced African Studies as Vice-Director and serves on multiple editorial boards. 2006-Present: Professor at University of Bayreuth 2011-2015: Director of Institute for African Studies 2015-Present: Vice-Director of Bayreuth Academy of Advanced African Studies Her research interrogates urban ecotonal spaces through African music videos, transnational cinematic flows in African and Afro-Asian contexts, and mediated memory practices . Recent publications explore post-apocalyptic storytelling and decolonial aesthetics in music videos and films. Scientific contributions include: 2025: Staging Atmosphere: Urban Ecotonal Spaces in African Music Videos (Brill) 2024: Co-edited Asia-Africa: Multifaceted Engagement (Palgrave Macmillan) 2022: Animating the Future: Superheroes in Africa (Brill) 2020: Ghosts as Mediators: Memory and Hauntology (iwalewabooks) 2019: K-Pop Fandom in Germany (Korea University Press) She received the Faculty Enrichment Award from the Canadian Embassy in 2005 and serves on multiple academic committees including the University Library Commission (2007-2016).
Prof. Michel Clement is a Professor of Marketing & Media at the University of Hamburg Business School, holding the Chair for Marketing & Media since 2006. He previously held academic positions at the University of Passau (2005/2006) and Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel (2002–2005). His research focuses on entertainment media product management, new technologies, and donor/customer management. He has held significant administrative roles including Academic Senate Member (2013–present), Faculty Council Member (2014–present), and Director of the Research Center Media and Communication (2008–present). Education: PhD in Marketing from Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel (mentor: Prof. Sönke Albers), with a Master's in Business Administration focusing on Marketing, Innovation Management, and Psychology. Pre-academic career included management roles at Bertelsmann mediaSystems and Bertelsmann eCommerce Group, where he founded Snoopstar.com GmbH as Vice President. Research interests span digital media economics, prosocial behavior in healthcare donations, platform business models, and consumer decision-making in entertainment industries. He has contributed to understanding blood/plasma donation retention strategies, smart speaker impacts on media consumption, and pandemic-related behavioral changes. Leadership roles include supervisory board memberships at MADSACK Mediengruppe (2018–present), Studierendenwerk Hamburg (2017–present), and Universität Hamburg Marketing GmbH (2015–present). He has directed major initiatives like the Hamburg Graduate School for Media and Communication (2009–2016) and co-developed international MBA programs with Fudan University (2006–2008). Grants and collaborations include state-funded excellence initiatives and industry partnerships. His work integrates academic research with practical applications in media technology scouting, venture consulting, and digital platform governance.
Ohad Fried is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at Reichman University. He was previously a postdoctoral research scholar at Stanford University under Prof. Maneesh Agrawala and completed his PhD with Prof. Adam Finkelstein as part of the Princeton Graphics group. He holds an M.Sc. in Computer Science and a B.Sc. in Computational Biology from The Hebrew University. His research lies at the intersection of computer graphics, computer vision, and Generative AI , focusing on tools, algorithms, and paradigms for photo and video editing and synthesis . His work has been widely recognized in top conferences including CVPR, SIGGRAPH, and ECCV, with recent contributions to tiled diffusion models, expressive 4D facial motion generation, and synthetic image detection. Ohad has received numerous awards, including the Israel Science Foundation personal research grant (2021) , the Outstanding faculty researcher at Reichman University (2022) , and the Siebel Scholar award (2017) . He has advised multiple students in research projects, and his work is covered by media outlets like Wired , The Washington Post , and CNN . Teaching roles include courses at Reichman University such as "GenAI for Games & Entertainment" and "Synthetic Media Detection", and at Stanford University "Computational Video Manipulation". Key Research Themes: Neural Rendering Diffusion Models 3D Facial Animation Image/Video Editing Media Forensics Scientific Awards: ISF Personal Grant (2021) Siebel Scholar (2017) Google PhD Fellowship (2014-2016) Gordon Y.S. Wu Fellowship (2012-2013) Excellence Scholarships
Dr. Adrian Meier is a tenure-track Junior Professor for Communication Science at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU), holding the Chair of Communication Science since February 2024. Previously, he served as Assistant Professor at the University of Amsterdam (2020-2021) and as a Research Associate at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (2015-2020), where he completed his doctorate summa cum laude in August 2020, an MA in Communication Science (2013-2015), and a BA in Journalism and Political Science (2010-2013). His research is conducted through the Junior Professorship for Communication Studies, part of the Institute for Labor Market and Socioeconomics (IAS) within FAU's School of Business, Economics and Social Sciences. Meier's research focuses on media usage and effects research, media psychology, and interpersonal communication, with particular emphasis on the consequences of digital communication for well-being, health, and self-regulation at the interface between work and leisure. His work investigates phenomena such as digital stress, procrastination, and digital communication in the home office. Methodologically, he specializes in in-situ surveys, digital behavioral data analysis, and AI-supported literature syntheses, with a strong commitment to theory-driven, media-psychological, and quantitative-empirical approaches. His research employs short-term longitudinal designs including diary studies and experience sampling, systematic literature reviews, and adheres to open science principles with pre-registration. Analysis of Meier's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on digital disconnection and its relationship to well-being, examining how temporary breaks from digital media can improve situational psychological states. His work innovates in measuring digital behavior beyond simple screen time metrics, exploring nuanced aspects of smartphone usage patterns, temporal dimensions in media effects, and the motivational factors behind digital disconnection. He has made significant contributions to understanding the complex relationship between social media use and mental health, particularly in adolescent populations, while challenging simplistic narratives about passive versus active social media use. Dordick Dissertation Award from ICA Communication & Technology Division Dissertation Prize from German Society for Journalism and Communication Studies (DGPuK) Best Paper Award at Annual Conference of the Section for Reception and Effect Research Editorial board member for Media Psychology, Journal of Media Psychology, and Mobile Media & Communication As an active researcher and educator, Meier supervises bachelor's theses and offers a range of courses in communication science. His research has been funded through prestigious grants including an ERC Starting Grant for his project 'Social Well-Being from Hybrid Interactions in Hybrid Work' (HYIHY), which received €1.5 million in funding. His work has established him as a leading voice in understanding the psychological implications of digital communication in contemporary society, particularly at the intersection of work and personal life in the era of hybrid work arrangements.
Dr. Fatemeh Masdari is a Junior Research Fellow at the University of Münster’s Centre for Advanced Study “Access to Cultural Goods in Digital Change.” She holds a Master’s in Economics and Management of Art, Culture, and Entertainment from Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Milan, 2012) and a PhD in Art Research from Al-Zahra University (Tehran, 2018). Her research focuses on Philosophy of Art, Aesthetics, and Digital Media, with expertise in 4E Cognition Theory and Cyberspace Studies. She taught undergraduate and graduate courses in Islamic Art, New Media, and Philosophy at Iranian universities post-2012. Key collaborations include work with the Iran National Science Foundation (2016) and UNESCO Chair in Tehran (2019, 2021). Her multilingual skills (Persian, Italian, English, Spanish, French) enhance cross-cultural research. Her publications analyze Instagram aesthetics, new media ontology, and cultural impacts of digital technologies. Research emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to digital transformation in cultural goods and media representation.
Matthias Künzler serves as Professor of Communication Policy and Media Economics at the Institute of Journalism and Communication Studies within Freie Universität Berlin's Department of Political and Social Sciences. His academic career spans Swiss and German institutions including FH Graubünden (2014-2021), Universität Zürich (2002-2013), and guest professorships at Universität Basel, Universität Zürich, Universität Fribourg, and Universität Salzburg. Current research focuses on Local Journalism and Municipal Communication in the Digital Transformation. Freie Universität Berlin (2021-present) FH Graubünden (2014-2021) Universität Zürich (2002-2013) His research examines comparative media systems with emphasis on German and Swiss contexts, local journalism sustainability, public service media transformation, and broadcast regulation. Methodologically grounded in qualitative approaches and organizational theory, his work addresses news deserts, media convergence, and the societal role of local media infrastructure. Recent projects analyze Swiss local media business models, youth engagement with public service content, and municipal communication in digital environments. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals concentrated focus on local media crises (7 articles), public service media challenges (4 articles), and Swiss-German media system comparisons (12 articles). Key emerging themes include news desert mitigation strategies, innovative funding models for local journalism, and public value frameworks for entertainment programming in public service contexts. Künzler serves as decentralized ombudsperson for scientific integrity at Freie Universität Berlin (since 2022) and previously chaired the Swiss Communication Science Association (2016-2022). He co-edits the "Medienstrukturen" book series (13 volumes published since 2012) and participates in editorial boards including Publizistik and M&K Medien & Kommunikationswissenschaft. His teaching covers German media systems, local communication, public service media innovations, and communication policy colloquia. Current doctoral supervision focuses on digital transformation impacts on local journalism and municipal communication. Leadership roles include advisory positions for Berlin's general career preparation program and research committees at FH Graubünden. Research infrastructure includes the ongoing "Lokalmedien in der Schweiz und Liechtenstein" dataset series tracking Swiss local media (2022-2025), developed with Burger and Autenrieth. The "Local Journalism and Municipal Communication" project examines digital transformation impacts through comparative Swiss-German analysis.
Prof. Dr. Florian Freitag is a Professor of American Studies at the University of Duisburg-Essen (Germany) since 2019, specializing in Transnational American Studies, Canadian Studies, and Theme Park Studies. His academic journey includes a PhD in North American literatures from the University of Constance (Germany) in 2011, followed by postdoctoral research at the Obama Institute, JGU Mainz. His educational background includes: 1998-2005: Student of English and French, University of Konstanz, Germany 2002-2003: Exchange student, Department of American Studies, Yale University 2006-2011: Doctoral Student, Department of Literature, University of Konstanz 2009: Visiting Scholar, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada 2015-2016: Visiting Scholar, CityTech (CUNY), New York, USA Freitag's research interests span Transnational American Studies, Canadian Studies, Popular Culture, Theme Park Studies, Periodical Studies, Performance Studies, and Hurricane Katrina studies. His work explores the intersections of cultural representation, spatial theory, and transnational flows, with particular attention to how American culture travels and transforms in global contexts. He has made significant contributions to understanding theme parks as cultural spaces that negotiate national identity, transnational influences, and historical narratives through spatial design, narrative construction, and visitor experience. His publications reveal a strong focus on how themed spaces mediate cultural understanding across national boundaries. His scholarship demonstrates how popular culture forms like theme parks serve as important arenas for cultural work that often goes unrecognized in more traditional academic contexts. His work examines the political dimensions of themed environments, the adaptation of classical mythology in global theme parks, and how cities like New Orleans are represented across different media forms. Among his notable scientific contributions are his books The Farm Novel in North America: Genre and Nation in the United States, English Canada, and French Canada, 1845-1945 (Camden House 2013), Popular New Orleans: The Crescent City in Periodicals, Theme Parks, and Opera, 1875-2015 (Routledge 2021), and Key Concepts in Theme Park Studies: Understanding Tourism and Leisure Spaces (Springer 2023), which established him as a leading scholar in interdisciplinary theme park studies. Freitag has also been active in academic service, including co-editing special issues and volumes on intersectionality, Chinese theme parks, and transnational approaches to North American regionalism. His work demonstrates a commitment to interdisciplinary approaches that bridge literary studies, cultural geography, and media studies, with significant contributions to understanding cultural representation in themed environments.
Olaf Stieglitz serves as Professor for American Cultural History at Leipzig University, with academic roots at Cologne University (Habilitation 2012) and Hamburg University (Ph.D.). His career includes a 2005 Humboldt Fellowship at Florida State University and visiting professorships at Münster, Erfurt, Cologne, FU Berlin, and Leipzig. His teaching spans BA courses on North American history (colonial era to 21st century) emphasizing social/cultural history and transnational entanglements, and MA seminars on Memory Studies, body politics, and visual culture. Research Interests: Stieglitz specializes in US Social and Cultural History since the 1890s , intersecting with Gender History , History of the Body , and Sports History as Cultural History . His work critically examines power structures across class, race, gender, and ability, while exploring History of Visual Media (photography/film) and Memory Studies to bridge historical analysis with contemporary discourse. His 2023-2024 publications reveal interdisciplinary trends spanning sports history (e.g., Althea Gibson, swimming pools), political memory (Bonus Army, Black Panther Party), and body politics, reflecting a cohesive focus on cultural narratives of power, identity, and visual representation in American history. Scientific Recognition: Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship (2005) Stieglitz actively mentors students through the Hans Böckler-Stiftung as Vertrauensdozent and organizes key academic initiatives including OAH conference sections and workshops on American globalization. His service includes editorial roles for Body Politics – Zeitschrift für Körpergeschichte and memberships in GAAS, OAH, AHA, and German historical/sports associations. Current collaborative projects include the Handbook American Globalization Projects and Status Quo Vadis Körpergeschichte workshop, demonstrating ongoing engagement with international research teams.
Prof. Dr. Manuel Trummer is an Adjunct Professor and Senior Academic Councillor at the Chair of Comparative Cultural Studies at the University of Regensburg's Faculty of Languages, Literature and Cultural Studies. He holds a habilitation in media governance and rural development (2019) and a doctorate in Comparative Cultural Studies (2011). His research focuses on popular media, rural cultural analysis, and intangible cultural heritage. He leads the IKEL/BMEL-funded project on rural intangible heritage and serves on UNESCO's Expert Committee for Intangible Cultural Heritage. Education: Magister in Comparative Cultural Studies and Art History (2004), PhD in Rock Music & Devil Imagery (2011), Habilitation on media governance (2019) Key roles: Co-chair of the German Ethnological Society's Rural Cultural Analysis Commission, member of Bavarian Academy of Sciences (2015–2020) Research emphasizes media narratives of rurality, heritage politics, and Eastern European memory cultures. Recent work includes analyzing BR TV's rural imagery and editing Pop the Nation (2023). His projects bridge academic research with cultural institutions, including museum collaborations and policy advising. Notable awards include the 2015 Faculty Teaching Prize and Junge Kolleg membership (2014–2019). Active in interdisciplinary initiatives like the 'Faktizität der Welt' research group.
Siddhartha Sharma is an Assistant Professor at the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University , specializing in Information Systems & Operations Management . His research explores the intersection of digital distribution , media market transformations , and consumer behavior . Sharma’s academic contributions include empirical analyses of e-commerce platforms , livestream marketing , and digitization’s impact on traditional industries . His work often employs field experiments , econometric modeling , and data-driven decision-making to evaluate strategic implications of technological shifts. His recent publications focus on print book cannibalization by e-books , retail media dynamics , and delivery time optimization , reflecting trends in digital-physical channel interactions , platform economics , and consumer engagement . Specific scientific awards or educational backgrounds are not detailed in the provided texts. Sharma collaborates extensively with researchers from Carnegie Mellon University , University of Texas at Dallas , and Kelley School of Business , addressing challenges in digital disruption and marketplace design .
Dr. Julia Winkler is a Researcher at the Chair of Communication Psychology and New Media at the University of Würzburg , Germany. She earned her doctorate in 2023 with the dissertation topic "The experience of emotional shifts as a narrative process." Her research focuses on narrative psychology , media effects on emotional states , and climate change communication , particularly through fictional narratives. She has extensively published on emotional shifts in stories, narrative transportation, and strategies to counter extremist online content. Education: MA and BA in Media and Communication Studies (University of Mannheim) Her recent publications analyze emotional responses to media stimuli (2024), event-congruent emotions in narrative persuasion (2023), and radicalization prevention through media literacy education (2020–2017). She actively contributes to understanding how narrative structures influence affective experiences and decision-making, with a special interest in climate communication strategies. Her work appears in journals like Frontiers in Psychology , Media Psychology , and Discourse Processes , as well as edited volumes on extremist propaganda prevention.
Olaf Kramer is a Professor of Rhetoric and Knowledge Communication at the Department of General Rhetoric, Faculty of Humanities, University of Tübingen. He leads the Presentation Skills Research Center and serves as Managing Director of the Research Center for Science Communication (RCS). Since 2021, he has been the spokesperson for the RHET AI Center, focusing on artificial intelligence in science communication. Kramer is also a key editor of Science Notes magazine and the neue rhetorik / new rhetoric book series. Professor, Department of General Rhetoric, University of Tübingen Head, Presentation Skills Research Center Managing Director, Research Center for Science Communication (RCS) Spokesperson, RHET AI Center Editor, Science Notes and neue rhetorik series Education: Studied General Rhetoric, German Literature, Philosophy, and Psychology in Tübingen, Frankfurt (with Jürgen Habermas), and Chapel Hill, USA (with Lawrence Grossberg) Ph.D. (2008): Rhetoric in Goethe Habilitation (2015): Virtual Reality, with teaching authorization in General Rhetoric and German Literary Studies Olaf Kramer's research centers on science communication , communicative competence , political communication , digital rhetoric , and virtuality . His work bridges classical rhetorical theory with contemporary media and public discourse, particularly in scientific and political contexts. He investigates how knowledge is recontextualized in public communication and how digital platforms reshape rhetorical practices. The recent publications reflect a strong trend in interdisciplinary rhetoric , combining insights from law, theology, education, and digital media. His work explores the rhetorical dimensions of judicial decisions, science slams, social media, and AI, emphasizing the role of narrative, visual design, and audience engagement in shaping public understanding. The integration of virtuality and digital navigation into rhetorical theory highlights his innovative approach to modern communication challenges. Scientific Awards: No specific awards are mentioned in the provided text. Kramer actively supervises a large cohort of students and researchers, many of whom have collaborated on publications and projects. He has secured third-party funding for major initiatives like the Presentation Skills Research Center. His advisory and leadership roles extend to university governance, public engagement, and professional consulting for organizations such as the Max Planck Society and the German Foreign Office. He is deeply involved in public science communication through the Science-Notes lecture series, which he founded and moderates, and through media appearances on ZDF/3sat and RTL. His work also includes designing and leading rhetorical training programs for academic, corporate, and governmental clients, demonstrating a strong commitment to translating academic knowledge into practical applications.
Claudia Gerhards serves as Professor of Communication and Multimedia at the University of Applied Sciences Düsseldorf within the Faculty of Business Studies. Since 2005, she has held this position while also serving as program director for the Bachelor's program in Communication and Multimedia Management. Her academic profile bridges extensive industry experience with scholarly research, having worked for thirteen years as editorial manager, producer, and format developer for television production companies specializing in nonfiction entertainment prior to her academic career. Her educational background includes studies in German Philology, Theater/Film/Television Studies, and English Philology at the University of Cologne, where she also completed her doctoral studies. Her research focuses on digital media transformation, specifically examining new business models for traditional media companies in digital environments, social media communication strategies for brands (particularly on Snapchat, Instagram, and YouTube), and innovative storytelling formats in digital spaces. Analyzing her publication history from 2002-2025 reveals consistent scholarly engagement with evolving digital media platforms as they emerge. Her work demonstrates methodological adaptability, moving from television studies to contemporary social media research while maintaining focus on content creation, audience engagement, and commercial applications. The publications show progression from traditional media analysis to cutting-edge investigations of influencer culture, platform nomenclature, and moral dimensions of digital content creation. Jury Member of German Radio Prize (2012-2014) Jury Member of Adolf-Grimme-Preis (2007) Professor Gerhards actively supervises bachelor's theses, with students required to contact her six months before thesis registration. Her guidance focuses on communication and multimedia management topics, reflecting her expertise in digital media business models and content strategies. While specific grant information isn't detailed in the provided text, her extensive publication record suggests successful research funding throughout her career. Her industry background provides practical insights that likely inform applied research projects with media organizations. Her work environment centers around the Communication and Multimedia department, where she develops curriculum for digital media management education. Her research approach combines theoretical frameworks with practical industry insights, particularly valuable given her thirteen years of professional experience in television production before entering academia. Current teaching includes courses on digital storytelling, PR & social media relations, and communication theories, all supported through Microsoft Teams platforms as indicated for the 2025/26 winter semester.
