On the Industry's Influence on Early Media Policies in Post-Socialist East Germany

• In Event: ICA Interactive Paper/Poster Session II
  In Interactive Poster Session: Media Industry Studies Interactive Poster Session

Abstract

Based on extensive archival research, this paper looks at issues of press distribution in the transition of the East German press in 1989. It argues that the transition of the East German press cannot be understood without taking into consideration early media policy influences and market pressures of the West German media industries. For this it focuses on the lobbying efforts of the major (West German) publishing houses Heinrich Bauer (Hamburg), Axel Springer Publishing House (Berlin) and Gruner+Jahr (Hamburg). What is being presented is the 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