Using Ministry-Funded Research Programs to Promote Historical and Political Science Studies

At the Intersection of Media and Academic Activity. The Case of “Historia dzieje się!”

Abstract

Using Ministerial Science-Funding Programs to Promote Historical and Political Science Research – At the Intersection of Media and Academic Activity. The Case of Historia dzieje się! The article presents the assumptions, implementation, and results of the project Historia dzieje się! funded by the Ministry of Education and Science under the “Science for Society” program. The aim of the project was to use modern media formats to popularize historical and political science research and to integrate such content into teaching practice at both secondary and higher education levels. The article applies a methodology characteristic of communication and media studies, based on the analysis of content, audience reception, and the functioning of digital communication. It discusses the context of contemporary forms of historical popularization in the Polish online space, the assumptions and motivations behind the project, the adopted formula of the public affairs program, and its didactic component, which included educational materials prepared for each episode. The article also analyses data on viewership, public reception, and the challenges related to promoting content on social media platforms. It highlights the media impact of the series, including cases where program content was used in further academic and popularization initiatives, and emphasizes the importance of ministerial funding in enabling the realization of a project with broad reach and lasting influence on its audience.