Based on the study ‘Who controls the media?’ (Lutz Hachmeister/Günther Rager, C.H. Beck, 2005), the media database mediadb.eu was developed in December 2007 and has always been available at http://www.mediadb.eu . The annual rankings of the largest media groups in Germany and internationally provide a compact overview of the latest national and international developments in the media landscape. In addition, the EU country portraits provide an overview of the different regulatory models in Germany and abroad, thus enabling a transparent recording of the ownership and power structures of the European media markets. In the med-term, the analysis is to be extended to other non-EU countries. The UK is already part of the country portraits.

In contrast to other comparable research projects, in which the information provided is prepared in a strictly scientific manner, mediadb.eu also provides data for a broader, interested public with an insight into developments in the media landscape by presenting facts and figures in a generally understandable way. In this way, mediadb.eu is already an internationally established research tool on media economic structures and developments.

About the Institute for Media and Communications Policy (IfM)

The Institute for Media and Communications Policy (IfM) was founded in September 2005 as a non-profit company in Berlin-Charlottenburg and an office in Cologne. As an independent research and consultancy organisation, it sees itself as a forum and think tank for the media industry, communications research and policy-makers. Within this framework, the IfM develops proposals for solving media policy tasks and debates these with those responsible in politics, science and business. The Institute's staff are particularly engaged with the foundation of concepts and positions in media policy.

In addition to the media database mediadb.eu, the IfM's formats range from studies and other forms of publication to colloquia, conferences and other events with international politicians and other members of society. A Board of Trustees and the Scientific Advisory Board support the Institute's activities in an advisory capacity. The IfM is supported by companies in the media industry, private, public and public-law institutions. Furthermore, the Institute does not serve any economical, party or organization specific purposes.