The Department of Communication is one of the largest communication departments in Germany and Europe. More than a dozen professors and over 50 employees teach and conduct research at the forefront of the discipline. Since the department was founded in 1966, the focus of research and teaching at the Department of Communication has been on the empirical analysis of media causes, content and effects. Current research activities also include professional and application-oriented research.

The Department of Communication currently offers a bachelor's and master's degree programs in Communication Studies as a major and minor as well as three master's degree programs. Teaching emphasizes academic excellence, social relevance and practical professional training. The School of Journalism offers further BA and MA degree programs that focus on journalistic practice.

Get to know the research groups and degree programs at the Department of Communication.

Women are still significantly underrepresented in science. Despite positive developments, there is still an imbalance, especially at higher career levels. The Institute of Communication Studies promotes gender equality through targeted support, networks and the mentoring program "to-get-her in academia" for female master's and doctoral students.

The research group General Communication Research deals with the dynamics of society and communication in research and teaching and examines media content, media use and media effects with regard to two overarching questions: How do people communicate individually or through mass media about different topics and aspects of social reality? How do these representations of reality affect recipients?

The research group Computational Communication Science specializes in empirical communication research, with a strong emphasis on developing and applying computational methods to investigate the use and impact of digital media.

The research group Democracy and Digital Communication focuses on the consequences of digital media change for Political Communication. We are interested in both the opportunities and challenges of digitization for media, society and democracy. We work with qualitative and quantitative social science methods and attach importance to a holistic and long-term consideration of these issues.

The research group Israel Professorship in Communication Science focuses in research and teaching on the opportunities enabled to individuals and communities through the utilization of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in their attempt to realize their freedoms and promote their wellbeing.

The Communication Science Research Group covers a wide variety of different topics, such as media trust, epistemic authority, journalists’ safety, framing of contentious issues, environmental communication, activists’ media tactics and journalism activism interaction.

The Media Convergence research group focuses on the digital transformation of the public sphere. The team conducts research on topics such as media diversity, platformization, social cohesion, and algorithmic curation, and supports the transfer of knowledge into media policy and society.

The research group Media Effects and Media Structure focuses on media use and effects from various perspectives, including fan communication, exemplification, self-effects, and media use processes at the situational level.

The Research Unit for Media Effects and Media Psychology addresses the individual and societal consequences of digital media use. In addition to media entertainment and mobile media, a central focus of our work lies on the intersection of media use, self-regulation, and mental health.

The Media Business research group analyzes the media industry from an economic perspective. Firstly, we look at individual media as actors, secondly, we address questions relating to the organization of media companies, and thirdly, we examine the overall economic contribution of the media industry.

The Political Communication research group conducts research and teaching on the content, use and effects of political communication, particularly in news media and social media.

The research group Strategic Communication examines strategic and persuasive communication, focusing on CSR, greenwashing, crisis communication, CSA, informal communication, advertising effects, and the blurred boundaries between journalism and PR.

The research unit Science Communication examines how different target groups deal with scientific and health-related information, especially in digital or AI-influenced contexts, and develops evidence-based strategies for science and health communication.

Central tasks

Freshers' week, pub crawls, mulled wine parties, PubliParty, PubliGrillen, PubliKick – we are responsible for your entertainment practically all year round!
In addition to parties, we also organize a lot more; we mediate between students and teaching staff and are happy to help with everyday and unusual problems of all kinds. With us you get academic advising first-hand – from long-term students to brand-new bachelor students! Questions about the module plan, examinations and general university life are in good hands with us.
Although we are called the Communication Studies student council, we are also available for the master’s degree programs, all of which are represented by us.

PR to join in? Events, workshops and lots of communication power await you at kommoguntia.

CampusMedia Mainz offers students of the minor Audiovisual Communication (AVP) as well as students of other subjects at the JGU a unique editorial practice field in which students learn to produce audiovisual contributions for a broad audience in various teaching editorial offices. For AVP students, the CampusMedia teaching editorial offices form the core of their AVP program of study from the 3rd to 6th semester. Here, the specialist knowledge of the major (subject) is combined with the media-specific knowledge of audiovisual design. Whether publicist or political scientist, historian or film scholar - here students learn in six semesters how to attractively prepare complex topics for a broad audience using contemporary audiovisual media. Journalistic basic knowledge is also the basis here. The contributions are broadcast on the Offener Kanal Mainz and published on various internet and social media platforms.

A special feature of CampusMedia is that the teaching editorial offices are also open to interested students from other subjects. These are cordially invited to participate. Interested parties should send a short email to cm-koordination@uni-mainz.de. The current editorial deadlines can also be requested here.

Have you always wanted to present live on the radio, interview your favorite singer or learn how to create web design and cool social media content? You can do all that with us! No kidding, Campusradio Mainz is a training radio station and open to all disciplines, regardless of whether you have previous journalistic experience or not. If you have any questions, just write a non-binding email to kommunikation@campusradio.uni-mainz.de or a short dm via Instagram (@campusradiomainz). We look forward to seeing you! 📻

The Institute for Communication Studies brings together with the Alumni Stiftung der Mainzer Publizisten.

Former students, students and employees together and ensures exchange and impulses beyond the program of study and everyday working life. The foundation offers the necessary space for events, creates platforms to stay in touch and supports scientific projects as well as student initiatives.