Laudatory by Ulrike Rohn, emma President, June 7, 2019, Limassol, Cyprus
It is my great pleasure to announce that this year’s emma award goes to Gabriele Siegert from the University of Zurich in Switzerland, where she is a full professor of Media Economics and Management.
Please, give her a big round of applause; praise that she – although she will not be able to hear it for herself as she sadly could not attend this year’s conference – she will hear about. Gabriele Siegert has been a very regular participant at emma conferences for many years. However, she has not been able to join us for the last few conferences, as she has taken up the role of vice president and now of deputy president at the University of Zurich. With this role has come a schedule that has, in recent years, conflicted with our conference dates. As it does this year. Long-term emma members and conference participants know her very well, and our younger and more recent additions probably have heard her name, but may not be able to connect the name with a face.
So, why did the emma board decide to grant Gabriele Siegert the emma Award?
Firstly, Because of her strong individual research contribution to media management scholarship. Gabriele Siegert has authored and edited ten books, as well as numerous journal articles. Her main research topics include media branding, advertising, and entertainment.
In covering these topics, Gabriele Siegert’s work is of high practical relevance, without being atheoretical. In line with this year’s topic, she has created actionable knowledge by bridging theory and practice.
What is more, in her work, she not only looks at the commercial objectives of media organizations, but she also considers their societal role and responsibilities.
Regarding media brands, for examples, she not only discusses how owning media brands may help sell media products, but also how media brands may help deliver high-quality and socially relevant content.
And, although she describes how to make media advertising more efficient and effective, she also recognizes the limits of commercial media. Moreover, she has contributed to several studies that point to the value and necessity of public service media.
A further merit of her work, and a second reason for her receiving the award, if you will, is the fact that she carries her knowledge and expertise outside of our scholarly community.
She has, for instance, served for many years on the Swiss Federal Media Commission, which is an expert board consulting the Swiss government on media policy. Again, she has demonstrated a unique ability to bridge theory with practice and provide knowledge and insights to critical stakeholders of our research, a prerequisite for informed decision-making.
Gabriele Siegert has also served as the president of the Swiss Communication Association.
One of the key reasons that the board unanimously voted for her to receive the award, and the third reason, if you may, is her significant contribution to emma.
Gabriele Siegert hosted the emma conference in 2007 in Zurich. She has also talked and lectured at several emma doctoral summer schools.
Not only has she contributed to emma directly, but she has also indirectly contributed through the many PhD students and other supervisees at her institute, whom she has supported in their contributions to our Association.
Bjørn von Rimscha, for instance, served for many years on the emma board while he did his PhD and worked with Gabriele Siegert in Zurich.
There is not a single emma conference without a large number of her current or previous PhD students or other supervisees. All of these people have contributed to our conferences and scholarship with quality academic research. I want to acknowledge her present and past PhD students and supervisees, and I would like for you to join me in the front here (so that we can later also take a picture together):
- This is Bjørn von Rimscha, whom I mentioned already, who did his PhD with Gabriele Siegert and is now a full professor of Media Business at Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany
- Marcel Verhoeven
- Isabelle Krebs
4) and Stefanie Hangartner – all three from the Institute of Mass Communication and Media Research (IPMZ) at the University of Zurich
- She is the second supervisor for Gianna Ehrlich from Mainz University.
Others whose name many may recognize include: Juliane Lischka, Loris Russi, and Christoph Sommer.
Reflecting Gabriele Siegert’s practice-relevant approach, many of those whom she supervised and mentored throughout the start of their careers have been successful outside of academia.
Some of you may remember Kerstin Fröhlich, one of her former PhD students, who is now the Head of Innovation with the German news publisher “Der Spiegel.”
Patrik Rademacher is Senior Manager of Strategy with the Swiss Media Group Ringier.
Florian Kumb is Managing Editor and head of program strategy at the German Public Broadcaster ZDF.
Nina Schwab-Hautzinger is Head of Corporate Brand Strategy with Hofmann – La Roche.
Just to name a few.
Gabriele Siegert has significantly contributed to the building of the next generation of media management researchers, as well as educated practitioners. This and her own contribution to the knowledge output of our scholarship make this award the logical consequences of her work.
And now I need one more round of applause for Gabriele Siegert, the 2019 emma Award winner!
Ulrike Rohn
emma President