Dipl.-Soz. Hermann-Dieter Schröder studied sociology in Bielefeld. He has worked at the Hans-Bredow-Institut since 1983. He has here pursued the following topics, among others: the presentation of television programmes and broadcasting providers in programme guides and the daily newspapers, the organisation and financing of local radio, the organisation of programme production for television and the development of media business in Hamburg. His research interests concern particularly the organisatorial and commercial structures of the media system.