Irmgard Wetzstein

Irmgard Wetzstein serves as Professor and Academic Director of the Management and Digital Business (BA) program at the Department of Digital Business and Innovation, University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten. Her research critically examines digital media's societal impact through interdisciplinary lenses spanning media studies, gender analysis, and conflict resolution.

Her work specializes in deconstructing power dynamics in digital communication, with recurring themes including:

• Gendered media representations in femicide and refugee crisis coverage
• Visual rhetoric in financial and political communication
• Online discourse patterns in migration debates and protest movements
• Cybercrime victimization through gender-sensitive frameworks

Methodologically, she employs content analysis, discourse analysis, and visual communication research to interrogate how digital platforms shape public understanding of contentious social issues.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals consistent focus on German-language media contexts, particularly Austrian press and social media ecosystems. Key trends include the intersection of digital platforms with gender-based violence reporting, the construction of national identity through migration discourse, and critical examinations of peace/conflict journalism frameworks in digital spaces.

Wetzstein actively contributes to the Institute for Innovation Systems, where her work bridges academic research with practical applications in digital business communication and social innovation initiatives.