In social sciences, the interdependence between media systems and political systems is generally not in doubt. However, empirical knowledge about the relation between the two types of systems is rare. A deeper understanding can be gained by an international comparison of media and political systems from a macro perspective using aggregated data. The pilot study presented in this article offers an approach to international comparison based on four dimensions: freedom, diversity, centrality and tradition. These concepts serve as dimensions of comparison for both media-and political systems. The instrument is tested by using an intentionally heterogeneous sample of seven countries from around the world: China, Germany, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Russia and the US. In combination with a pragmatic use of systems theory as a theoretical framework, the dimensions allow more profound insights into the relation between media-and political systems. In sum, the research project prepares the ground for future international large-N comparisons.

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Zusammenfassung: Der Beitrag präsentiert die Ergebnisse einer empirischen Erhebung auf strukturationstheoretischer Grundlage zur Kennkarte der deutschen Medien-und Redak-tionsmanager_innen. Die Akteure dieses medialen Feldes werden mitsamt den sozialen Strukturen vorgestellt. Präsentiert werden zudem die Ergebnisse umfassender Recherchen zur Menge der Medienmanager_innen in verschiedenen Medientypen. Rund 3 600 Me-dienmanager_innen wurden online befragt, 759 haben geantwortet.