Christoph Bertling

Dr. Christoph Bertling is a Senior Lecturer and managing head of the Institute for Communication and Media Research (IKM) at the German Sports University Cologne (DSHS). He has over ten years of journalistic experience with major media organizations such as Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Süddeutsche Zeitung, and Deutsche Welle. His research focuses on communication, marketing, and media strategies in the sports sector, with collaborations across media companies, public authorities, sport federations, and international universities.

Research Interests: His primary fields include Communication, Media Studies, Marketing, Sports Media, and Media Economics. His work explores digital transformation, audience engagement, media strategy, and science communication, particularly in sports contexts. He investigates multiscreen communication, media innovation, and the role of mass media in public discourse.

Publications and Research Trends: His recent publications analyze the evolution of second screen to multiscreen media, media strategies in sports, and transnational media networks. The research demonstrates a strong focus on digital innovation, audience behavior, and strategic communication in sports media ecosystems.

• Health Media Award in Science Communication
• DSHS Teaching Award (three times)
• Best Teachers Institute (USA, 2011)
• Award from SUNY Cortland for excellence in Media History (1998)
• Teaching awards for 'Publizistik II' and 'Medienökonomie'

Academic Service and Leadership: He is a member of the DSHS senate, board director of the alumni association for sport economics and management, and reviewer for scientific journals. He is actively involved in academic committees and organizes international conferences on mass media and communication. He is also a member of the International Association for Communication and Sport and the German Society for the History of Sports Science.

Public Engagement: Dr. Bertling frequently contributes to media outlets such as Deutschlandfunk Kultur, Süddeutsche Zeitung, and ZDFheute, discussing topics like Paralympics, football oversupply, and sports legends, reflecting his role as a public intellectual in sports and media.