Development of a digital research environment for accessing and researching data on German broadcasting programming and activities

• Applicant: Dr. Anne Lipp
• Subject Area: Modern and Contemporary History ; Communication Sciences ; Theatre and Media Studies
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 458234883

A national, cross-broadcaster research portal that centrally records broadcasting data and makes it easily searchable for academic purposes in a digital format, regardless of location or time, is the vision behind “rufus – Portal Rundfunksuche” (Broadcasting Search Portal). In the proposed funding phase, the portal will be further developed based on the results and findings from the pilot project to date and the valuable feedback from the community. The project has three objectives: (1) to expand and deepen the data by diversifying the data sources and improving usability, (2) to expand the user groups and anchor the service in the FID network, and (3) to stimulate the archive opening processes through intensive public relations and networking. These objectives are anchored in three work packages: (i) The expansion of the system architecture is dedicated to the technical development and optimization of the platform infrastructure. The long-term planned connection to the FID infrastructure and additional portal functionalities require not only further development and adaptation of the system, but also differentiation in the handling of various data sources, preparation for the planned data entry by users, and the development of a data management tool and a separate, independent user administration and control system, which is necessary for opening the portal to other specialist communities. The work package also includes measures to improve usability. (ii) The second work package serves to expand the portal with new metadata and to deepen and complete existing data. This includes adaptation to the latest version of the internationally accepted EBUCore data schema. Deutschlandradio is a new major data partner. Workflows for handling non-archival sources (including program guides) further expand the data pool and enable the diversification of metadata access towards a program chronicle. The active participation of research communities in data entry accompanies this diversification, exploits the potential for in-depth description of existing data, and is an important contribution to open science. (iii) Public relations and networking, as well as user feedback, are important prerequisites for the long-term success of the Rundfunksuche portal. The third work package serves to further publicize the search options now available for the first time in Germany and to stimulate intensive, diverse use of the portal. At the same time, user feedback and needs will be continuously collected and incorporated into the development of the portal. In addition, with a view to the prospective opening of further archives, it is important that the topic gradually gains relevance and priority on the agenda of decision-makers.

• DFG Programme: Research data and software (Scientific Library Services and Information Systems)
• Participating Institution: Deutschlandradio; Hauptstadtstudio; Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen