Concept
The priority program assumes that people's lives and experiences increasingly take place in mediatized worlds. This concept describes spheres of activity and social worlds, in which the relevant forms of social practices and cultural sense-giving have entangled themselves inseparably with the media. Mediatized worlds are concretized in public and political spheres but also in everyday life, social and gender relationships, gainful employment and consumption, social institutions and labor organizations. In the German as well as increasingly in the English and Scandinavian fields of science, the term "mediatization" describes a comprehensive development process similar to globalization and individualization, namely the increasing influence media communication has on culture and society.
Taking into consideration the technical aspects of mediatization, the current mediatized worlds as well as their conditions, forms of expression and consequences for social coexistence will be pervaded theoretically and investigated empirically. Currently, only selective sociological empirical studies and research approaches are presented in these fields. These are theoretically not complex enough and are narrowed down to specific questions. Moreover, new questions constantly arise in view of the fast developments. Currently, for example, new forms of communicative actions in the so called WEB 2.0 are investigated. Considering the social relevance of the research field, a stronger, integrated and interdisciplinary procedure seems to be necessary. On this basis, new comprehensive questions can be developed in an international framework, and they can be investigated systematically with partially new methods. In addition, corresponding theories can be worked out. The knowledge gained by the priority program will be passed on to civil society, governmental and economic instances.