The paper emphasizes the need for further research on the relationship between the picture(‘s) of the past and conditions for research. A short description of how research has been done on media is presented. It is noted that media society early in its own history started to raise questions on how internal structures and roles shapes the picture of current society. Through a comparison with the academic historical society it is argued that such an ambition still have to be searched for. The picture of the past, is, like the picture of current society, drawn, not in a vacuum but in context of power struggle. It is proposed that further research on conditions, roles and structures within those academic research groups (institutions, networks etc) should be illuminating. A consequence is that the task for history didactic research has to be broadened to encompass such research.