The meta-process of `mediatization' as a conceptual frame

In the rapidly changing global environment, there is a need for a conceptual frame that takes account of the wide range of theories and explanations for developments in media and communication, which also encompasses drivers like globalization, individualization and the growing importance of the market economy as a reference system. Academic research here does a lot of interesting work ‐ but we lack a conceptual frame to order all these partial results and theories. Such a frame would make it easier to find a common language between different academic cultures in the world, such that we can learn better from their results and theoretical efforts. This is necessary because academic research is important for civic society, which needs objective information about what is happening in a changing world and how to influence it. Driven by their interests, money and power, economic and political systems already employ large networks to collect, exchange and use knowledge, but the exchange of information between civil societies, including academic researchers, is much less systematic and complete. Worldwide academic communication research needs a common conceptual framework within which to integrate and disseminate this knowledge. This article briefly sketches some general concepts which perhaps may be helpful here.