TrappelUniv.-Prof. Dr. Josef Trappel

Head Department of Communication Studies
Head Division Media Politics and Media Economics
Director of EMJMD Digital Communication Leadership (DCLead)

+43-662-8044-4167

Office: Hochparterre Raum 016, Rudolfskai 42, 5020 Salzburg
Office hours: by appointment

Josef Trappel is a University Professor of communication policy and media economics. Since 2012, he is head of the department of communication studies. He studied communication studies and political science and then worked as an expert on media policy issues at the Federal Chancellery in Vienna and at the European Commission in Brussels. He then directed the media and communications division of Prognos AG in Basel, Switzerland. He completed his habilitation at the University of Zurich.

Currently, he is also the director of the Erasmus+ Joint Master  Program Digital Communication Leadership.

  • Research Interests

    Communication and Democracy

    Media Economics

    National and International Media Policy

    Media Structures and Innovation in Digital Change

  • Networks

      Euromedia Research Group (Chair since 2004)

      ECREA European Communication Research and Education Association (member)

      IAMCR International Association for Media and Communication Research (member)

      ÖGK Österreichische Gesellschaft für Kommunikationswissenschaft (Mitglied)

      SGKM Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Kommunikations- und Medienwissenschaft (Mitglied)

  • Documentation of Research

    The current research documentation can be found here.

  • Master´s exams

    Instructions for oral Master’s examinations with Univ.-Prof. Dr. Josef Trappel – (as of February 2021)

    Step 1:

    Step 2:

    Based on your suggestions, we will determine the topic together (in a consultation session or by e-mail). Now you look for six to eight current academic texts on the topic, half of them from the Anglo-Saxon world and none older than 10 years. You send me your list by e-mail, I revise the list and then declare it mandatory exam material. I mark the texts I don’t know. You send me these texts as a pdf.

    Step three:

    You write a review for each text. It contains:

    the correct bibliography

    brief information about the authors

    Summary of the content (topic, research question, key messages)

    3 – 5 significant verbatim quotes (correctly cited)

    Your personal scientific evaluation of the text: How does the text fit with your level of knowledge? Contradictions? Surprises? What have you learned? Where do you agree? Where do you disagree? Strengths/weaknesses of the text from your point of view?

    Length: max. two pages per text

    Step 4:

    Step 5:

    We will discuss your reviews in the examination interview. You should show that you are able to argue scientifically.