Media, Technology and Society
Shaping Futures in Media, Technology and Society
We live in an era of rapid change and significant societal and technological transformations. In these times, working with media means embracing complexity: How do we make sense of Big Data? How can we address the ethical implications of algorithms? How should we communicate the challenges of the Anthropocene? MTS is an international Master's programme. We train students to shape the futures of organisations and companies at the interface of media, technology and society.
We discuss and scrutinise the role of technologies, analyse their societal impact, and develop corresponding concepts and strategies for media organisations, companies and NGOs. Our Master’s programme is rooted in professional fields such as journalism and public relations. Grounded in empirical research, we encourage our students to critically assess media realities and to engage in thinking about, shaping and leading technological and social futures.
Research Media Practice in our LABs
How does the use of social media contribute to experiences of technostress? How can chatbots support onboarding processes? How do fact-checking organisations tackle fake news? Who distributes political content within a network of media users? In our laboratories, we address real-world questions from media and communications practice, drawing on empirical methods and theories from media studies.
Learning Paths
MTS graduates are experts in the development, planning, implementation and evaluation of new forms of communication, media and study methods for journalism and strategic communication. At the same time, they are made aware of the ethical dimensions of digitalisation, for example with regard to sustainability and the use of data. We offer the following learning paths
- Planning and conducting research
- Assessing technology
- Integrating innovation into journalism and strategic communication
- Understanding data
- Implementing strategy and change processes
Understanding the Social Impact of Technology
How can we assess technological risks? Why does autonomous technology depend on human labour? Why is innovation sometimes so difficult to achieve? What makes smart technology smart? In the lecture ‘Technology’, we take an in-depth look at concepts and theories from Science and Technology Studies to gain a better understanding of the ‘social shaping of technology’ (MacKenzie & Wajcman). Against this backdrop, we discuss current technological phenomena, ranging from smart homes to nuclear power stations, and from fake news to platformisation.
Image source: Spaceship Earth, 1982 Buckminster Fuller & Shoji Sadao, CC BY-SA 3.0
"MTS enabled me to practise scientific thinking and to develop and expand my academic and research skills. What’s more, the lecturers encouraged me to experiment with cutting-edge techniques whilst having fun combining two of my passions: technology and media."
Cristian Edel Weiss
MTS alumnus, journalist and PhD student in Political Science at the University of Mannheim
“My aim at MTS is to combine creativity with marketing, social media, charitable work and social awareness, whilst bringing a little of my country to Germany and a little of this country to Mexico. I aim to strike a balance between all these elements that brings together everything I’m passionate about, ultimately contributing meaningful research to these fields of study.”
Lina Catize
MTS student
“The Media, Technology and Society programme at h_da equipped me with the skills to understand the impact of digital media on society. Now, as a press officer working for a trade union, I use this knowledge to effectively advocate for workers’ rights.”
Lisa Merz
MTS alumna, press and public relations officer for DGB Hessen-Thüringen
“The MTS programme gave me the tools not just to create media, but to analyse, research and understand it in a broader sense. Instead of guessing what might resonate, I now have the knowledge and skills to identify what works, why it works, and how it fits into the wider cultural and media landscape.”
María José Vargas
MTS alumna, Communication & Content Manager at the International Career Service Rhein-Main.
“I really enjoy studying MTS because it gives me different perspectives on various media topics. I particularly like the family-like atmosphere in the courses, which makes me feel at ease whilst studying.”
Marc Ebling
MTS student
Professional fields
Graduates have a wide range of career opportunities in the editorial and consultancy sectors, where media, technology and society intersect:
A brief overview of some possible career paths after graduation:
- Researcher in Communications or Journalism
- Product Manager in Media Development
- Consultant for Media Innovation Management
- Data Security & Compliance Manager
- Corporate Social Responsibility Manager
- Science and Technology Journalist
- Environmental and Climate Journalist
- News Media Editor
- Consultant for Publishing and Media Strategies
- Content Strategist
- Communications Strategist
- Media Marketing Manager
- Consultant for New Media Marketing
- Online Community Manager
- Media Digitisation Consultant
- Content Manager
- Consultant in Communication Management
- Social Media Manager
- User Experience Consultant
"Studying MTS gave me some brilliant life hacks: the ability to analyse viral trends and audience needs, to navigate the complex world of digital publics, and how to make sense of cat videos."
Vanessa Kokoschka, MTS alumna, PhD student and research associate at Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences
“With MTS, the h_da offers a great space to experiment and explore new media worlds with open-minded, international spirits.”
Jakob Vicari
MTS lecturer and data journalist, Professor of Data Journalism at Hannover University of Applied Sciences and Arts, and Founder & Lead Creative Technologist at tactile.news
“The world we live in today is driven by data and propelled by technology, whether we like it or not. MTS is all about agency – becoming a sovereign subject, actively contributing to this development for the better of us all, rather than simply remaining an object shaped by it.”
Olaf Steenfadt
MTS lecturer, Founder and Managing Director of Global Media Registry (GMR)
Elective modules on methods and processes
How can we turn information into knowledge? How can we tell stories from data? How can change be embedded within an organisation’s structure? And which processes foster innovation? In our Electives on Methods and Processes, offered every winter, we draw on tools from the digital humanities, organisational studies, entrepreneurial studies and data-driven communications to tackle complex topics and steer change processes.
Image source: Digital poster presentations from our Laboratory
