Distributing the Press: Lobbying and Media Policies in East Germany (1989/1990)

• In Event: ICA Interactive Paper/Poster Session II
  In Interactive Poster Session: Communication History Interactive Poster Session

Abstract

Based on extensive archival research and interviews, this paper shows that the transition of the East German press cannot be understood without taking into consideration early media policy influences and lobbying strategies of the West German media industries, here in particular the major publishing houses Heinrich Bauer (Hamburg), Axel Springer Publishing House (Berlin) and Gruner+Jahr (Hamburg). Together (with Burda Publishers (Offenburg)), these publishing houses were called the “Big Four,” they used different strategies to influence media policies and to explore the emerging GDR press market early on. This paper presents early “the behind the scenes” work that made for media policies still influencing current distribution structures in the Eastern part of Germany.

Author

• Mandy Troger, U of Illinois at Urbana Champaign