Obituary: Professor Wolfgang Donsbach

German communications scientist and former WAPOR President Professor Wolfgang 'Wolf' Donsbach died on Tuesday following a heart attack. He was 65 years old.

After a childhood in Bad Kreuznach, Prof. Donsbach (pictured) studied communication science, political science, anthropology and sociology at the University of Mainz. He then worked in various roles including three semesters as a Professor at the Institute of Sociology of Communication and Psychology at the Freie Universität in Berlin.

In 1993, he began teaching at the Institute of Communication Science at the Technical University of Dresden, where he went on to found and serve as Director of the Department of Communication. His main areas of research included journalism, public opinion, political communication, and exposure to mass media, along with the methodological aspects of consumer surveys. As well as teaching at the universities of Dortmund, Mainz and Berlin in Germany, he was a visiting Professor at Columbia University, Syracuse University (both USA), University of Navarra (Spain), and Harvard University.

Between 1995 and 1996, Donsbach served as President of the World Association for Public Opinion Research (WAPOR), and from 2004-5 as President of the International Communication Association (ICA). In 2007, he received WAPOR's Helen Dinerman Award for extraordinary achievements in public opinion research, and in 2008 he accepted the David Swanson Award in Political Communication, sponsored by ICA's Political Communication division.

Donsbach was also long-time Editor and Publisher of the International Journal of Public Opinion Research (IJPOR), the Editor of the twelve-volume International Encyclopaedia of Communication, and the co-Editor of the SAGE Handbook of Public Opinion Research, which brought together reviews of public opinion theory and methodology. Since the beginning of this year, he had served as Strategic Consultant to the Ipsos Public Affairs team; in the areas of public opinion and reputation management research.

Current WAPOR President Patricia Moy said Professor Donsbach's legacy has included 'the elevated reputation of public opinion research around the globe'.

MORI founder Bob Worcester added: 'Wolf's death is a great loss to his family and friends who are all over the world. He was contributive and willing to teach, to collaborate, and a first-rate scholar. His legacy will be remembered. As the first Managing Editor of IJPOR his contribution was unique, he got the journal off to a flying start and it was a pleasure to work with him. We have all lost a great colleague'.

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.