Lectures for Digital Residents: Preface to the Handbook of Media and Communication Economics

Working in and with media is neither “l’art pour l’art” nor an unprofitable undertaking. Prospective students often voice their vague career wish as “doing something with media”—but this requires earnest study. And earning money in this field must also be learned. And even if both succeeded until yesterday, that is no longer a guarantee for a successful tomorrow. The times have changed, and the fissures between the former understanding of media and the tsunami of new content threaten to overwhelm us on our protected islands.