Prof. Otfried Jarren (left) at the opening panel of the DGPuK. From left: Prof. Birgit Stark, Prof. Annika Sehl, Prof. Marlies Prinzing, Dr. Stefan Schmitt. Image by Susanne Fengler.
By Susanne Fengler
Democratic institutions are faltering—and with them, journalism and the public sphere. Otfried Jarren argues that communication studies should not merely observe, but actively participate in reshaping the landscape.
The Institute of Journalism at TU Dortmund University hosted the 71st Annual Conference of the German Society for Journalism and Communication Studies (DGPuK) from March 18 to 20, 2026. In his keynote address, Prof. Dr. Otfried Jarren (University of Zurich/Free University of Berlin) addressed the role of communication studies in a changing democratic communication society. Under the title “Advocacy for a Democratic Communication Society,” he addressed the growing pressure on key institutions—and called for a more active role for the discipline.
The keynote thus fit into the overarching conference theme “#Science #Communication #Democracy,” which shaped the conference. The focus was on how public communication is changing under the conditions of digital platforms, economic constraints, and technological innovations—and what responsibility academia and journalism bear in this context for democratic public discourse and opinion formation. Jarren’s presentation addressed these central questions by redefining the role of institutions in the tension between social change and democratic stability.
Loss of trust, institutional erosion, and competition among institutions
Jarren diagnoses a comprehensive crisis of traditional institutions in Western democracies. Journalism, the media, and science are confronted with declining trust and growing criticism. This development is attributable to both internal changes and external factors—in particular new technologies such as platforms, algorithms, and AI, which are themselves becoming institutional actors. A central theme of the keynote is the “competition among institutions.” Traditional intermediary institutions such as journalism and public media, which long shaped public opinion, now compete with digital platforms. These platforms function not only as technologies but as new forms of organization that structure communication without being tied to membership or normative commitments.
A fundamental socio-technical upheaval
For Jarren, this is not a temporary crisis but a fundamental transformation. The current process represents a “breakthrough” in which institutional orders are being reconfigured. In the process, it becomes clear that institutions have evolved historically and are subject to change. Increasing complexity, organizational differentiation, and rising expectations contribute to the current sense of being overwhelmed. Using journalism and public broadcasting as examples, Jarren demonstrates how institutional uncertainties manifest themselves in concrete terms. Journalism faces unclear professional roles and questions of legitimacy—for instance, regarding its function, organization, and funding. At the same time, public broadcasting suffers from organizational fragmentation and identity issues.
New Tasks for Communication Studies
Against this backdrop, Jarren calls for a reorientation of communication studies. It should play a greater role in analyzing and shaping institutional changes.
This includes:
- new theoretical and empirical approaches
- the co-production of social knowledge
- contributions to the design of communication structures
- greater public visibility
At the same time, he emphasizes the necessity of academic independence.
Perspective: A Democratic Communication Society
The keynote views communication studies as a central actor in the development of a democratic communication society.
In light of the growing influence of technological and political actors on communication structures, Jarren sees the discipline as having a responsibility not only to analyze these developments but also to actively help shape them.
This article, “Rethinking Communication in the Crisis of Democratic Institutions“, was originally published by the European Journalism Observatory on April 27 2026.