Dr. Philip Sinner
Research Associate
CV
Philip Sinner has been a research associate at University of Bremen and a postdoctoral researcher at Center for Media, Communication and Information Research (ZeMKI) in the Datafication and Mediatization Lab since August 2022. He is the coordinator for Erasmus outgoings in the International Affairs team at ZeMKI. Since 2020 he is co-leader of the bi-national research group CoKoMeV on conditions, communication strategies and digitization of sports clubs in Germany and Austria. Since 2023, he has been a member of the OpenQDA working group, which is working to implement a research infrastructure ecosystem for qualitative data analysis at ZeMKI. Philip Sinner is chair for the Division Media Sport and Sports Communication Section (DGPuK) and YECREA representative in the TWG Communication and Sport (ECREA).
From 2020 to 2022, Philip Sinner was a research associate at Paris Lodron University of Salzburg and Johannes Kepler University in Linz. He worked in the research projects RI:TrainPlus on conditions and communication strategies of European Research Infrastructures and Core Facilities (Horizon 2020), CO:RE Children Online: Research and Evidence (Horizon 2020) and in the long-term study on media socialization of socially disadvantaged adolescents (Jubilee Fund of the Oesterreichische Nationalbank). Since 2022, he has been a member of a research project of the Austrian Academy of Sciences on multilingualism in science. From 2019 to 2022, Philip Sinner also worked as a lecturer at the Department of Communication Science at University of Salzburg and at the Faculty of Computer Science, Communication, Media at University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria in Hagenberg, focusing on theories and methods of media and communication studies, media usage and media consumption as well as sports communication and media sports.
In 2020, Philip Sinner was awarded a doctorate in philosophy with distinction by the Faculty of Cultural and Social Sciences at University of Salzburg. Title of the thesis “Social Media in the Bundesliga. The social media offerings of the Bundesliga and 2nd Bundesliga clubs in Germany and usage by fans and interested parties”. From 2014 to 2018, he was a university assistant and doctoral candidate at the Department of Communication Studies, assigned to the Department of Audiovisual and Online Communication (Head: Prof. Dr. Ingrid Paus-Hasebrink). Previously, he worked as a student assistant (2011 to 2013) and later as a research assistant (2013 to 2014) in the projects EU Kids Online III and IV as well as in the long-term study on media socialization of socially disadvantaged adolescents.
Philip Sinner studied Communication Science (2007 to 2013) at Paris Lodron University of Salzburg and completed his studies with distinction. The thesis is entitled “Kicking and Clicking – Soccer and Social Media. Social Media used by the clubs in German Bundesliga” He was awarded a merit scholarship by the Faculty of Cultural and Social Sciences. He previously studied law at University of Munich (2004 to 2007).
Research Focus
- Media usage
- Everyday culture and popular culture
- Media sports and sports communication
- Online communication of children and young people
- Organizational communication and
- Science communication
Memberships
- German Communication Association (DGPuK), Divisions: Digital Communication, Media Education, Media Sport and Sports Communication, Media Reception and Effects
- European Communication Research and Education Association (ECREA), Networks, Sections, TWGs: YECREA (Young scholars network), Audience and Reception Studies, Children, Youth and Media, Media, Cities and Space, Communication and Sport
- International Communication Association (ICA)
- International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR)
- European Research Network EU Kids Online and Children Online: Research and Evidence (CO:RE)
- European Research Network RI:TrainPlus
- CoKoMeV research group
- National committee “No Hate Speech” (Austria)
- Council Saferinternet.at (Austria)
- Member of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Sport Communication
Publications (Selection)
Publications
Hepp, A., Hohmann, F., & Sinner, P. (Hrsg.). (2025). Medien-, Daten- und Vernetzungspraktiken erforschen: Methodische Konzepte und Forschungssoftware. Springer VS. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-49434-6
Sinner, P., Trültzsch-Wijnen, S., Nieland, J.-U., & Ihle, H. (2019). Heftedition Wintersport und Medien – ein Gegenstand der Kommunikationsforschung. MedienJournal. Zeitschrift für Medien- und Kommunikationsforschung, 43(1).
Monographs
Forschungsgruppe CoKoMeV (2022) Herausforderungen der Kommunikation von Sportvereinen während der COVID-19 Pandemie. Research Essentials. Stuttgart: Hochschule der Medien. Eine Veröffentlichung von C. Seeger, T. Horky, J.-U. Nieland, D. Nölleke, C. Schallhorn & P. Sinner.
Paus-Hasebrink, I. & Sinner, P. (2021). 15 Jahre Panelstudie zur (Medien-)Sozialisation. Wie leben die Kinder von damals heute als junge Erwachsene? Reihe Lebensweltbezogene Medienforschung: Angebote – Rezeption – Sozialisation. Band 10. Nomos.
Sinner, P. (2020): Social Media in der Fußball-Bundesliga. Die Social Media-Angebote der Vereine der Bundesliga und der 2. Bundesliga in Deutschland und deren Gebrauch durch Fans und Interessierte. Dissertationsschrift an der Kultur- und Gesellschaftswissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Paris Lodron Universität Salzburg.
Paus-Hasebrink, Ingrid/ Kulterer, Jasmin/ Sinner, Philip (2019): Social Inequality, Childhood and the Media. A Longitudinal Study of the Mediatization of Socialisation. Transforming Communications – Studies in Cross-Media Research Series, Volume 4. London & Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Articles in anthologies
Sinner, P. (2026). Online-Kommunikation und Kultur. In W. Schweiger, K. Beck & V. Karnowski (Hrsg.), Handbuch Online-Kommunikation (S. 1-24, Living Edition). Springer VS,. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-18017-1_11-2
Hepp, A., & Sinner, P. (2026). Media use and practice in communities and for communitisation (IV.2). In H. Schramm, V. Gehrau, H. Bilandzic & C. Wünsch (Hrsg.), Handbook of Media Use (pp. 571-690). Nomos. https://doi.org/10.5771/9783748962519
Sinner, P. (2025). Netzwerkkarten und eigenständige Sortierungen: Ein innovativer Ansatz zur Erforschung der Kommunikationsrepertoires und der Kommunikationsstrategien von Breitensportvereinen. In A. Hepp, F. Hohmann & P. Sinner (Hrsg.), Medien-, Daten- und Vernetzungspraktiken erforschen: Methodische Konzepte und Forschungssoftware (S. 231-260). Springer VS. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-49434-6_9
Hepp, A., Hohmann, F., Sinner, P., & Belli, A. (2025). Medien-, Daten- und Vernetzungspraktiken erforschen: Eine Einführung in medienübergreifende Ansätze. In A. Hepp, F. Hohmann, & P. Sinner (Hrsg.), Medien-, Daten- und Vernetzungspraktiken erforschen: Methodische Konzepte und Forschungspraxis (S. 1-36). Springer VS. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-49434-6_1
Hepp, A., & Sinner, P. (2025). Medienrezeption, Gemeinschaft und Vergemeinschaftung. In V. Gehrau, H. Schramm, H. Bilandzic & C. Wünsch (Hrsg.), Medienrezeption. Nomos Handbuch (S. 593-612) 2., aktualisierte und erweiterte Auflage. Nomos.
Sinner, P., & Kaczmarek, A. (2024). Organisationskommunikation von niederklassigen Fußballvereinen in Österreich. In T. Horky & J.-U. Nieland (Hrsg.), COVID-19 und die Sportkommunikation. Der Einfluss der Corona-Pandemie auf Sport, Medien und Journalismus (S. 245-276). Springer VS.
Schallhorn C., Seeger C., Horky T., Nölleke D., Sinner P., & Nieland J-U. (2024). Relationship Marketing während der COVID-19-Pandemie Kommunikationsstrategien und -prozesse in deutschen und österreichischen Sportvereinen. In J. Nieland, T. Horky (Hrsg.), COVID-19 und die Sportkommunikation. Der Einfluss der Corona-Pandemie auf Sport, Medien und Journalismus (S. 195 – 222). Springer VS.
Nieland, J.-U., Sinner, P., Schallhorn, C., Nölleke, D., Horky, T., & Seeger, C. (2024). Die kommunikative Figuration des mediatisierten Breitensports. Kommunikative Strategien österreichischer und deutscher Sportvereine als Antwort auf die Covid-19-Krise. In F. Kühnle & L. Franco (Hrsg.), Abstractband zur Jahrestagung 2024 der dvs-Sektion Sportsoziologie Sportsoziologie als Krisenwissenschaft (S. 20). Bundesinstitut für Sportwissenschaft.
Sinner, P. (2023). Fake News & Filter Bubbles. In J. Zumbach, L. von Kotzebue, C. W. Trültzsch-Wijnen & I. Deibl (Hrsg.), Digitale Medienbildung. Pädagogik – Didaktik – Fachdidaktik (S. 141-153). Waxmann.
Horky, T., Seeger, C., Nieland, J.-U., Nölleke, D., Schallhorn, C., & Sinner, P. (2022). Relationship marketing during COVID-19: Relationship marketing during COVID-19: strategies and processes of communication in German and Austrian sports clubs. In P.M. Pedersen, (Hrsg.), Research Handbook on Sport and COVID-19 (S. 154-165). Edward Elgar Publishing.
Paus-Hasebrink, I., Kulterer, J., Oberlinner, A., & Sinner, P. (2022). Medien in der Sozialisation benachteiligter Jugendlicher. Blick in eine Langzeitstudie (2005 bis 2017). In F. Berger, B. Bütow, H. Fennes, F. Guerrini, K. Lauermann, S. Sting & N. Wächter (Hrsg.), Jugend – Lebenswelt – Bildung. Perspektiven für Jugendforschung in Österreich in Innsbruck. Schriftenreihe der ÖFEB-Sektion Sozialpädagogik (S. 229-248). Verlag Barbara Budrich.
Ortner, C., Sinner, P., & Jadin, T. (2019). Chapter 25. The History of Online Social Media. In N. Brügger & I. Milligan (Hrsg.), The SAGE Handbook of Web History (S. 372-384). SAGE.
Sinner, P. & Reinersdorff, D. von (2019). Vielfalt durch Social Media? Österreichs Fußball im Social Web. In C. G. Grimmer (Hrsg.), Sportkommunikation in digitalen Medien. Vielfalt, Inszenierung, Professionalisierung (S. 43-63). Springer VS.
Articles in journals
Sinner, P., Nieland, J.-U., Nölleke, D., Seeger, C., Schallhorn, C., & Horky, T. (2024). Kommunikative Praktiken und Kommunikationsstrategien von Breitensportvereinen. Eine triangulative Befragungsstudie in Deutschland und Österreich. Journal für Sportkommunikation und Mediensport, 8(2), Special Issue – Sportkommunikation im Wandel, 84-105.
Schallhorn, C., Nölleke, D., Sinner, P., Seeger, C., Nieland, J.-U., Horky, T., & Mehler, K. (2022). Mediatization in Times of Pandemic: How German Grassroots Sports Clubs Employed Digital Media to Overcome Communication Challenges During COVID-19. Communication & Sport, Special Issue Mediatization, 10(5), 891-912.
Paus-Hasebrink, I., & Sinner, P. (2021). 15 Years Panel Study on (Media) Socialisation. The Children of Yesteryear are now Young Adults. Based on the presentation by Philip Sinner at the Vienna NGO Committee on the Family, November 8th 2021. Quarterly Bulletin of the Vienna NGO Committee on the Family 2018, 120, 3-17.
Horky, T., Nieland, J.-U., Nölleke, D., Schallhorn, C., Seeger, C., & Sinner, P. (2020). COVID-19_KoMeV. Eine internationale Studie zum Medieneinsatz und Kommunikationsverhalten von Vereinen während COVID-19. Journal für Mediensport und Sportkommunikation. Corona-Blog, 001.
Sinner, P., Trültzsch-Wijnen, S., Nieland, J.-U., & Ihle, H. (2019). Wintersport und Medien in der Kommunikationsforschung – ein Editorial. MedienJournal. Zeitschrift für Medien- und Kommunikationsforschung, 43(1), Wintersport und Medien – ein Gegenstand der Kommunikationsforschung, 2-5.
Presentations and Conference Participation (2026 & 2025)
Sinner, P., & Trültzsch-Wijnen, S. (2026). Will winter sports begin to rival sexualised summer sports? How leading Austrian and German female and male athletes in winter sports present themselves on social media. Shifting Grounds, 11th European Communication Conference of ECREA, Masaryk University (8th – 11th September 2026) Brno.
Nieland, J.-U., Neumann, T., & Sinner, P. (2026). Between Authenticity and Spectacle: Red Bull and the Visual Transformation of Winter Sport. Shifting Grounds, 11th European Communication Conference of ECREA, Masaryk University (8th – 11th September 2026) Brno.
Trültzsch-Wijnen, S., & Sinner, P. (2026). The (self-)presentation of leading Austrian and German female and male winter athletes on social media: changes and continuities. Peripheries and Connections: Media, Communication, and Transformation. IAMCR Annual Conference (28th June – 2nd July 2026) Galway.
Sinner, P., & Viejo Otero, P. (2026). Football Fandom and Media Use: Exploring Team Identification and Team Loyalty Among Colombian Football Fans. Communication and Inequalities in Context. 76th Annual ICA Conference (4th – 8th June 2026) Cape Town.
Saldes-Martí, X., Sinner, P., & Schwarzenegger, C. (2026). You’ve Got the Power (?): Playlist Curation as a Technology of the Self on Music Streaming Platforms. Communication and Inequalities in Context. 76th Annual ICA Conference (4th – 8th June 2026) Cape Town.
Tomashevskii, G., & Sinner, P. (2026). „If We Bombed London…” Language of Conflict in the Media Statements of Russian Sports Officials During Wartime. Communication and Inequalities in Context. 76th Annual ICA Conference (4th – 8th June 2026) Cape Town.
Neumann, T., Nieland, J.-U., & Sinner, P. (2026). Becoming Champions: Postfeminist Freedom and Neoliberal Constraint in Alpine Youth Culture. Communication and Inequalities in Context. 76th Annual ICA Conference (4th – 8th June 2026) Cape Town.
Sinner, P., Nieland, J.-U., & Neumann, T. (2025). School of Champions – Sports Aesthetics, Coming of Age, Media Socialization, and Social Critique. Towards Development of Mediatization Research IX: Youth, Sports, and Media. (5th December 2025) Lublin.
Sinner, P. (2025). Cities, (country) maps and communication: navigating the paths to our future. Panel Chair at 20 Years of ZeMKI International Anniversary Conference – 20 Years into the Future: What is our vision of media, data, and society? (22nd – 24th October 2025) Bremen.
Sinner, P. (2025). The relationship between gambling sponsorship and the normalization and prevalence of gambling (GAMSPON). UGent Expert Co-Creation Session at Sciensano (20th October 2025) Brussels.
Abs, A., Sinner, P., & Koenen, E. (2025, September 17-19). „Der Winter kommt“: Die ideologischen Botschaften der nationalsozialistischen Sportpropagandaplakate der Jahre 1933 bis 1939. 8. Jahrestagung der DGPuK-Fachgruppe Mediensport und Sportkommunikation. Nachhaltigkeit & Diversität in der Sportkommunikation, Frankfurt am Main.
Sinner, P., & Schäfer, M. (2025, September 17-19). Strategien & Herausforderungen in der (Krisen-)Kommunikation von Sportorganisationen. Panel discussion with David Profit (President of the German Swimming Federation – DSV) at 8. Jahrestagung der DGPuK-Fachgruppe Mediensport und Sportkommunikation. Nachhaltigkeit & Diversität in der Sportkommunikation, Frankfurt am Main.
Sinner, P. (2025, September 17-19). (Winter-)Sport in den Medien. Panel Chair at 8. Jahrestagung der DGPuK-Fachgruppe Mediensport und Sportkommunikation. Nachhaltigkeit & Diversität in der Sportkommunikation, Frankfurt am Main.
Sinner, P. (2025, September 17-19). (Nachhaltigkeits-)Kommunikation von Sportorganisationen. Panel Chair at 8. Jahrestagung der DGPuK-Fachgruppe Mediensport und Sportkommunikation. Nachhaltigkeit & Diversität in der Sportkommunikation, Frankfurt am Main.
Sinner, P., Neumann, T., & Nieland, J.-U. (2025). MeSort: Application, testing and further development of a qualitative computational sorting software to analyze media repertoires in organizational sports communication of clubs. IAMCR 2025 – Communicating Environmental Justice: Many Voices, One Planet (13th – 17th July 2025) Singapore.
Neumann, T., & Sinner, P. (2025). Political Polarisation in Media Coverage of Athletes’ Political Statements: An Analysis of Conservative and Liberal Reporting During the 2024 US Presidential Election. IAMCR 2025 – Communicating Environmental Justice: Many Voices, One Planet (13th – 17th July 2025) Singapore.
Sinner, P., Neumann, T., & Nieland, J.-U. (2025). Victims of Mediatization? Austrian fitness centers and their (social) Media behavior after the Covid-19 pandemic. 75th Annual ICA Conference (12th – 16th June 2025) Denver.
Neumann, T., & Sinner, P. (2025). Sporting Sorting: Media Repertoires of Grassroots Sports Clubs. The International Association for Communication and Sport (IACS) Summit (13th – 15th March 2025) Chicago.
Nieland, J.-U., Neumann, T., & Sinner, P. (2025). Sport and Politics? An Analysis of the Importance of Sport in the Electoral Campaigns of Austrian, German and US Parties. The International Association for Communication and Sport (IACS) Summit (13th – 15th March 2025) Chicago.
Hepp, A., Sinner, P., Belli, A., Hohmann, F., Krüger, G., Wolf, K.D., & Küster, J. (2025). Browser-basiert, kollaborativ, Open-Source: „OpenQDA“, ein CAQDAS (Computer-Assisted/Aided Qualitative Data Analysis Software) als kommunikations- und medienwissenschaftlicher Beitrag zur Forschungsinsfrastruktur. Netzwerk Qualitative Methoden (8th – 9th May 2025) Cologne.
