The Hans-Bredow-Institut sets itself to review findings of its projects on practical relevance and to make its research results available to various target groups. Results of larger-scale projects are not only published in reports and journal articles for the scientific community, but also in executive summaries aimed at interested laypersons.
The target groups do not only include the scientific community, representatives of politics and business, ministries and supervisory authorities, self-regulatory bodies or journalists, but also parents and teachers when addressing issues in media education or other civil society groups, such as the Deutsche Beamtenbund [German Civil Service Federation] or the Stiftung Kindergesundheit.
Many of the Institute’s projects already have, by dint of their devising, an – to a varying extent pronounced – element of transfer function. Above all, this concerns those projects developed in the scope of “Growing Up in Digital Media Environments”, “Public Service and Public Value”, “Health Communication” along with “Media History” within Research Programme 3 "Knowledge for the Media Society".
The Institute’s expertise is asked by policy-makers and practitioners in the media; thus, the Institute contributes to the analysis of current issues, for instance at hearings and with commentaries and expertise. It further contributes with projects or separate events that are developed in cooperation with non-academic institutions. By this, the findings are compatible with practice and, at the same time, the Institute can meet its aim of focussing on problem-oriented research. Examples are the Hamburger Mediensymposien [Hamburg Media Symposia], which topics are developed jointly by the organisers and which is consistently attracting over 250 participants and held in cooperation with the Medienanstalt Hamburg / Schleswig-Holstein [The Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein Media Authority] and with the Chamber of Commerce. Results of larger-scale projects are not only published in reports and journal articles for the scientific community, but also in executive summaries aimed at interested laypersons.
The institute answers inquiries of journalists and forwards them to the right contact person within and outside of the institute. Here, it is often a question of specialist assessment of current developments in the media through interviews for television, radio, in online offerings or in the press. The staff of the Institute is alos available to answer enquiries about literature, to provide subject-specific information and expert opinions and to consult on research enquiries. Frequently, however, it also concerns discussions on the background with editors, news agencies and associations. This sort of „informal” service is also called on intensively by journalists, who turn to the staff of the Institute often, and for whom the staff of the Institute represents sought-after partners.
In the BredowCast, an audio podcast that is published once a month, Daniela Friedrich and her changing guests give an insight into the research topics at the Hans-Bredow-Institut and into the daily life of the researchers.
Moreover, you can follow us on Twitter (@BredowInstitut).
The library of the Hans Bredow Institute – one of the most important specialist libraries on the topic of media/media research in North Germany – has holdings of more than 32,500 volumes. The book holdings are augmented by serials-department with ca. 230 titles, containing German and foreign specialist journals, as well as press and information services on the subject-area mentioned. One frequently used rare item is the magazine "Hörzu”, which is held from issue 1/1946 onwards.
The library is open to the public. As the entire library catalogue is accessible online, research can also be conducted from outside Hamburg at any time. Currently over 78,000 data items are available to users via computer. Information on the loan status of a book as well as on any reserves can also be accessed online.
