The Media and the Road to Modernity | 91source-based studies about the great publishers and journalists exist (anec-
dotal: Mendelssohn [1959] 1982; about Theodor Wolff: Sösemann 2000;
mainly up to 1890: Requate 1995). Notwithstanding this unsatisfactory state
of affairs, the self-concepts of these men, their contacts with editorial depart-
ments, their attitudes towards politics, and innovations in the Anglo-Saxon
world all need to be examined. Likewise, there are hardly any studies dealing
with the new popular press that emerged during the decades before and after
- Not even the contents of the biggest papers (Berliner Morgenpost, BZ am
Mittag, Berliner Lokal-Anzeiger, Berliner Illustrirte Zeitung) have been method-
ically evaluated, with the consequence that extremely sweeping judgements
about them continue to circulate. Possible aspects of such studies might be
the extent to which these papers changed ideas about politics, sports, and the
relationship between the sexes. At least some party organs like the so-called
‘Kreuz-Zeitung’ have already been researched (Bussiek 2002).
Another area that should be addressed is the German provincial media,
because they were truly characteristic of the country. Here one should examine
and compare the extent to which the provincial press merely accepted the offi-
cial state news bulletins and followed the lead of the big newspapers, but also
how they established relationships to their environments. What role did they
play in shaping social grouping, political parties and local power structures;
how did they organise job markets, influence local purchasing behaviour and
free-time activities, and the relationship between rural and urban spheres? Pre-
vious studies have shown that farmworkers read newspapers in part because
of their classified ads, which therefore provide valuable source material on the
life of rural workers. Their preferred reading was generally local or religious
weeklies provided by the local gentry (Schulz 2005: 148f., 257). Finally, there
has been very little research done on the relationship that existed among rep-
resentatives of the international popular press, although a closer analysis of
adaptations and specifically national traditions could reveal quite a bit about
the cultural peculiarities of individual countries.
Globalisation, Colonialism and Media Transformation
The nineteenth century experienced an accelerated ‘transformation of the
world’ (Osterhammel 2009). In its course, the second half of the century
witnessed the beginning of a phase of rapid globalisation. This was charac-
terised by global consolidation and integration, an increase in trans-border
interactions and cultural contacts, and increased cooperation and standardisa-
tion – but, at the same time, growing cultural differentiation. In like manner
globalisation was partially responsible for the development of a new worldview
that moved time and space closer together.