Towards the Liberation from Capitalist Business Models: The De-capitalisation of Journalism and Communication Studies

Abstract

This paper introduces a perspective on media companies, journalism, and Communication Studies beyond capitalism. It starts from a critique of German Communication Studies that has neglected the critical, Marxian-inspired analysis of the relationship of the media and capitalism. The article introduces elements of a Critique of the Political Economy of the Media. It discusses foundations of the liberation of the media from capitalist business models. The author in this context introduces the notion of the decapitalisation of the media, the rollback and abolition of the logic of capital in the media economy and society. He shows what role decapitalisation could play in journalism, communication studies, and academic publishing.