Bernd Blöbaum

Since 2001, Bernd Blöbaum is Professor for Communication Studies at the University of Münster, with a focus on media theory and practice. He is also Coordinator of the Research Training Group "Trust and Communication in a Digitized World" funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) as well as Director of the Graduate School of Communication Science (GSCS) at the University of Münster. From 2002-2007, he further held the post as Head of Department.

Before becoming Professor in Münster, Bernd Blöbaum worked as Visiting Professor in Hamburg and Bamberg as well as Research Fellow at the Department of Journalism, University of Dortmund. He holds a PhD from the University of Dortmund. In his thesis, he approached the question of journalism as a social system from a theoretical point of view. In 1998, Bernd successfully finished his habilitation studies.

His research interests include journalism research, research on media use, media theory and media practice, science communication and questions of journalism and trust.

Previous research projects include a three-year study focusing on how journalism in Germany has changed between 1990 and 2005 as well as an examination of evidence in science communication. Both projects were funded by the German Research Foundation. A current research project, "Media Logic and Science Policy. Science Policy in Mediatized Constellations of Politics, Science, and Media", analyses the relationship between media, science and politics.

At Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, Bernd will be following his research interest in trust in journalism in a digitised world, focusing on two questions in particular: Firstly, how important is trust in journalism? And secondly, how has the development of trust in journalism changed through the process of digitisation? Apart from developing an analytical concept of trust in journalism, he will conduct interviews with senior editors at British media companies. Following a cross-national comparative approach, the results will be contrasted with interviews with German senior editors.

Bernd's current research approach on trust and journalism corresponds with RISJ's research areas "Evolving Practice of Journalism" as well as "Relationship between Journalism and Accountability".