Life without TV? Inconceivably. The average person spends more than three hours a day zapping through the channels. The telly remains the most popular medium among Germans, closely followed by radio and the Internet. Most of them rarely turn to a book or the daily newspaper.
But what are the effects of this change in media usage ? Will books die out? How is the internet changing the way we live together? And why is television still so popular. Media scholars get to the bottom of such and similar questions.
What is media studies about?
Your task is to examine the media landscape from a scientific perspective . For example, they research how the individual media came about and what role they play in today’s society.
Since today’s media landscape is very differentiated , the courses in the field of media studies are also very different. Depending on the university, the focus can be placed on audiovisual media such as television and the Internet or on specific subject areas such as art, literature or music . Communication studies and media studies are combined at many universities .
Media studies course content
Basically, the Media Studies course is a cultural studies course. In terms of content, there are numerous interfaces to other cultural studies subjects such as theater studies , art history or literary studies .
In the bachelor’s degree
In the bachelor’s program, students first deal with the basics of media theory. You will get to know the history of the individual media and research their influence on society . They also analyze various formats, such as feature films or music videos. Further subjects are, for example, media psychology, media education or media philosophy. However, the course does not consist of pure theory: In practical modules , the students produce television or radio reports themselves or design websites.
In the master’s degree
Most media studies students follow a bachelor’s degree with a master’s degree. This not only serves to further specialize in content, but also prepares for management positions or a career in research . As in the bachelor’s program, very different courses are offered. You can choose between focal points such as media education or multimedia.
The courses in media studies are very popular. Prospective students should bring good grades on their Abitur certificate, because the NC is in the 1 range at most universities. It should also be clear to applicants that they are applying for a theoretical subject that does not focus on practice. Students are expected to read a large number of challenging academic texts. Since some of these are only written in English, a good knowledge of English is mandatory.
Career prospects for media scholars
Even if the course is more theoretical, around half of all graduates later work in journalism . In order to gain the necessary professional experience, many of them do an internship at a newspaper or a radio or radio station after graduation .
We recommend doing internships or part-time jobs in media companies during your studies. This will facilitate entry into the journalistic professional field later. Another field of activity is in the area of public relations . Graduates work, for example, as PR specialists for cities, associations, political parties or in PR and advertising agencies .
Study media studies globally
Entry into this professional field is also often done through a traineeship. Further fields of activity arise in market research, event management or in the area of social media. Master’s graduates are also able to do a doctorate and pursue an academic career at the university.
In the course of increasing digitalization and networking of the media landscape , intercultural skills and foreign language skills are becoming more and more important for graduates of media studies courses. It is advisable to spend one or more semesters abroad.
In this way, students can gain insights into the media landscape of other countries and broaden their professional horizons. Studying abroad is also worthwhile for personal development. When will you finally have the opportunity to get to know another culture up close and make friendships all over the world? The foreign language skills and intercultural skills required in professional life are acquired almost by yourself.
