What do we offer?

Degree-level courses

We can help you plan empirical (media) research autonomously with both creativity and competence and to critically evaluate it. We also pass on the basic knowledge and critical thinking skills in a job-relevant context for the fields of media and communications consultation, media economics and management, and public relations and journalism (see training objectives).

Training and continuing education

The staff at the IPMZ provide training at MAZ - the Swiss School of Journalism in Luzern or at ZHW – the Zurich University of Applied Sciences, and also offer further training of their own in, for example, the field of "science communications". These activities are coordinated by IPMZ transfer.

Applied research

The IPMZ conceives and realises applied research projects in various fields:

Media and communication consultation: a study comparing different European countries approaches to TV and radio regulation was carried out for the Federal Office of Communication.

Evaluation of media output and products: The Institute designs and implements content-analysis-based appraisals on matters such as "public service" as a quality attribute of news programmes or of media products and their response (such as for example the benchmark study of the German weekly Zeit).

Evaluations of information campaigns such as a regional government anti-drugs campaign ("Sucht beginnt im Alltag. Prävention auch.").

Issue Monitoring: fög (a department of the University of Zurich dedicated to research on the public and society) in particular analyses media coverage of various subjects on an ongoing basis with a view to an early diagnosis of opportunities and risks.

Readership and audience research: The IPMZ monitors TELECONTROL – an electronic TV audience-measurement system used by the audience research service Mediapulse AG – on behalf of the Swiss Media Commission (MWK). It is also a member of the research commission of the WEMF, the Swiss advertising research body.

Fundamental research

In 1997 and 1998 the IPMZ carried out projects for the Swiss Federal Office of Communication on subjects like "Culture in Broadcasting" or "Digital Communication: Individualisation and Disintegration?" Various projects such as "The Future of Journalism", "Coverage of Foreign Affairs" or "Public Relations in the Swiss Information Society" have been or still are being carried out for the Swiss National Science Foundation. In addition, two other international projects should be mentioned. These are "Children, Young People and the Changing Media Environment" and "Biotechnology and the Public Sphere".