Participation of the Media and Communication Management group at WMEMC 2025

Maxi-Josephine Rauch

In May 2025, the Department of Media and Communication Management took part in the World Media Economics and Management Conference (WMEMC) in Warsaw. This internationally renowned conference brings together scholars from around the world every two years to discuss current developments and challenges in media economics and media management.

The group presented three contributions, addressing key questions related to emotional responses in data-driven media environments, conceptual clarity around the platform term, and the societal responsibility of media:

  • Emotions and Datafication: Miriam Bernhard, together with Natalia Berger, Antonia Matei, François Nel, and Dagmara Sidyk-Furman, explored how emotional reactions – especially fear – shape media professionals’ attitudes towards increasing datafication in their work environments.

  • “The Platform Opacity”: Jonas Weber presented a literature-based analysis of how the term "platform" is used in media management research. His study highlights the conceptual ambiguity of the term and advocates for greater theoretical precision in future research.

  • “War and Peace: Exploring Research Agendas for Media CSR”: Andreas Will participated in a special session with Gheorghe Anghel, Anca Anton, Martyna Dudziak-Kisio, Anna Jupowicz-Ginalska, Emilia Zakrzewska, Bianca Harms, Päivi Maijanen, and Anna Samelova. The interactive discussion focused on the role of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the media sector – particularly in times of conflict and peace – and examined ethical, strategic, and societal implications.

Finally, the group would like to thank the WMEMC 2025 organizers for creating a well-structured and intellectually enriching conference experience.