Steffen Burkhardt

Steffen Burkhardt serves as Professor of Media and Cultural Theory, Media Research and Media Literacy at the Department of Information and Media Communication within the Faculty of Design, Media and Information at Hamburg University of Applied Sciences. His academic profile spans teaching, research leadership, and institutional governance in media and communication studies.

His research focuses on scandal dynamics, crisis communication frameworks, and reputation management systems, with foundational work analyzing moral dimensions in public discourse. The seminal monograph Media Scandals – On the Moral Explosiveness of Public Discourses established him as a leading scholar in political communication, examining intersections between moral frameworks and societal transformations. Current initiatives include federally sponsored programs enhancing Germany's international relations through strategic communication.

Burkhardt chairs the Media and Communications Audit Committee and Study Reform Committees for Media and Communication while serving on the Editorial Board of SOCIAL MEDIA + SOCIETY (SAGE journals) and the German Academic Scholarship Foundation's Selection Committee. His extensive professional network spans 12 major international associations including the International Communication Association (ICA), International Association of Media & Communication Research (IAMCR), and American Political Science Association (APSA).