Projects

The Research and Knowledge Transfer Centre "Media and Health Communication" is devoted to various facets of promoting health via the Media. Projects dealing with health-related media offerings as well as investigations with regards to the receptions of these offerings.

The data obtained form the essential groundwork, on which communicative arrangements in the field of Knowledge Transfer can be established.

Serious Games for Health

Computer and video Games are discussed publicly above all with a view to potential risks and the protection of minors. New developments in games advertise themselves with the potential of so-called “Exergames” to increase fitness as players have to demonstrate physical involvement. On the contrary, a great deal less attention has been paid to date to games, which use their entertainment potential to communicate pedagogical and socially relevant topics, be that in the context of politics, medicine and health promotion. more...

Network of Media and Health Communication

In the last few years, the topic of “Health Communication” has gained in significance in German Communications research, as is reflected in numerous projects and initiatives. Nevertheless, a discussion on the relevance of the research area, particularly from the viewpoint of research into media and communications, is still outstanding. The Institute is taking up the topic of Health Communication and is trying to stimulate the discussion on it as it relates to media by means of projects, events and publications.
In this context, one long-term project is the “Netzwerk Medien und Gesundheitskommunikation” (Network for Media and Health Communication), a joint initiative by Dr. Eva Baumann (University of Münster), Dr. Claudia Lampert (Hans Bredow Institute) and Dr. Constanze Rossmann (IfKW, München, Institute for Communications Studies and Media Research), which would like to contribute to the interdisciplinary networking of participants particularly engaged in media-related health communication. more...

Promoting Health in the Entertainment Format? How Minors perceive and evaluate Health-related Messages in TV Entertainment

Health topics gain in significance in teenage years: physical and psychic changes come about and the first experiences are made with narcotics. Young people are often difficult to reach with health-promoting or preventative messages, as they seek health information for themselves only comparatively rarely – unless they are directly or indirectly affected by a topic. Communication strategies specific to target groups are needed, which take account of the interest in the topic, the need for information as well as habits of media use. more...

Alcohol on TV – and how minors cope with it

Alcohol is an inherent part of everyday life and of various social rites, which are also reflected on TV. These allegories and their meaning as depicted in the media are the subject of a cooperative project being carried out on behalf of the Federal Centre for Health Education (Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung) and the Hanseatic Academy of New Media (Hamburgische Anstalt für neue Medien).

Within the scope of this project, the Hans-Bredow-Institute conducted a content analysis of selected programmes broadcasted by german TV stations. The results revealed that alcohol is depicted constantly and ubiquitously, but is rarely a focus. Besides its omnipresence, the trivializing characterisation of alcohol in the context of sportcasts or sporting events and in association with humor are especially worthy of discussion. more...