A "unconventional thinker" - Prof. Dr. Gerd G. Kopper

Even though he left the Erich Brost House quite some time ago, his presence is still felt: Professor Dr. Gerd G. Kopper founded and significantly shaped this institution at the Technical University of Dortmund.

In 1978, Kopper joined the Institute for Journalism at the Technical University of Dortmund as the Chair of 'Structural Issues of Mass Media.' In the late 1980s, he initiated a new focus on teaching and research in 'International Journalism in Europe' at the institute. The realization of this endeavor is thanks to Gerd G. Kopper. In 1991, he convinced WAZ founder and publisher Erich Brost of the idea to establish a non-profit foundation, which funded the extra-university research center, the 'Erich Brost Institute for Journalism in Europe.' It was also Gerd G. Kopper who initiated the construction of the Erich Brost House and played a decisive role in its architectural planning.

International Research Projects

The building was completed in 2002. Professor Dr. Gerd G. Kopper served as the scientific director of the institute until 2006. During this time, he also brought international research projects to the Erich Brost Institute, such as the AIM project (Adequate Information Management in Europe) funded by the European Commission. International workshops and conferences were evidence of well-established and functioning research networks like the European Network for Trans-Integration Research (ENTIRE). Through this network, Kopper brought media experts from all over Europe to Dortmund. Additionally, he published series such as the 'Working Papers on International Journalism.'

A staff member at the Erich Brost House describes him as an 'innovative lateral thinker': He has always integrated workshops, conferences, and new communication channels via internet platforms into international research. During his teaching career, he was highly respected by students: 'He values that students not only accumulate knowledge but also think independently and question structures,' reports one of his former students. In 2006, Kopper retired as a professor at the Institute for Journalism at the Technical University of Dortmund.