The aim of the present scientific work is to answer the following key question: How can the frames of German news reporting on the events of New Year's Eve in Cologne be assessed using the example of the Süddeutsche Zeitung and the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, how do the frames develop in the respective medium, how do they differ the media frames of the daily newspapers from each other and what effects do they achieve on the recipient level?
Since frames have great methodological potential, but are also very controversial, I will first define the framing tradition and the frame concept in the theoretical part of this final thesis. For this I will primarily use selected literature from Minsky, Konerding, Entman and Scheufele. After that, I will show different types of frames and discuss their possible effects on the recipient level. With the help of this theoretical basis, I can then use the frame concept as an analytical approach.
Three copies each of the Süddeutsche Zeitung and the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung are used as research instruments. Finally, in a last step, I will make a final assessment of the analysis results including the outlook.
Table of Contents
2 Framing Theory
2.1 Definitions of terms
2.2 Distinguishing frames
2.3 Framing effects
3 Framing of news coverage of the events of Cologne's New Year's Eve
3.1 Framing of the Süddeutsche Zeitung
3.2 Framing of the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung
3.3 Development and comparison of framings
4 Final analysis of the analysis results and outlook
Objectives and Topics
This academic work aims to examine how German news media framed the events of Cologne's New Year's Eve, specifically analyzing the coverage provided by the Süddeutsche Zeitung and the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung. The central research objective is to determine how these media framings developed over time, how they differed between the two newspapers, and what potential impacts these narratives had on the public perception and the subsequent political discourse.
- Theoretical foundations of framing, including cognitive and communication science perspectives.
- Principles and structure of media frames: problem definition, cause attribution, solution attribution, and moral evaluation.
- Comparative content analysis of selected articles from the Süddeutsche Zeitung and the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung.
- The development of framing patterns from initial suspicion to calls for structural and legal reforms.
- Assessment of potential macro-effects on public opinion and political decision-making.
Excerpt from the Book
Framing of the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung
Also in the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung some media reports appear, which comment on the attacks on women at Cologne Central Station on New Year's Eve. In the article Nach Angriffen auf Frauen in Köln: NRW droht Tätern mit Abschiebung German Chancellor Angela Merkel is the main actor. Here, too, she defines the attacks on women on New Year's Eve as a problem. Although she does not name any causes for the problem in this article, she does suggest a solution. She calls for a "hard[...] Response of the Rule of Law"120. It is therefore a demanded, personal measure and she assesses the problem very negatively by "her indignation at these disgusting assaults and sexual attacks"121 Tells. Thus, it creates a similar, negative attitude to the topic as before, but it is only an implicit frame, since the frame element of the cause attribution is ignored.
Summary of Chapters
2 Framing Theory: This chapter establishes the theoretical foundation by defining the framing concept across cognitive science, linguistics, and communication studies, and discusses the structural elements and effects of framing.
3 Framing of news coverage of the events of Cologne's New Year's Eve: This section conducts a qualitative analysis of print coverage in the selected newspapers to identify specific actors, their frame elements, and the resulting patterns of interpretation.
4 Final analysis of the analysis results and outlook: This final chapter synthesizes the findings, comparing the newspaper framings and reflecting on the broader societal impacts and potential areas for future media impact research.
Keywords
Framing Theory, Media Coverage, Cologne's New Year's Eve, Süddeutsche Zeitung, Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, Content Analysis, Problem Definition, Cause Attribution, Implicit Frames, Explicit Frames, Refugee Policy, Political Discourse, Macro-effects, Media Impact, Journalism
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The work investigates journalistic framing processes in German daily newspapers regarding the events of Cologne's New Year's Eve to understand how media narratives construct public perceptions.
What are the primary thematic fields addressed?
The study centers on political communication, framing theory, media policy, and the specific societal discourse evolving after the Cologne assaults in early 2016.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to analyze how different media framings develop and how these frames, used to highlight certain aspects of the events, influence the audience's understanding of complex social issues.
Which scientific methodology is utilized?
The author employs a qualitative-interpretative content analysis based on framing theory, focusing on the categorization of frame elements like problem definition, cause, and solution attribution.
What is covered in the main body of the paper?
The main body includes a thorough theoretical introduction to framing, followed by an empirical application where selected articles are analyzed to map the "coherent horizon of meaning" constructed by different actors.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms include Framing Theory, Media Coverage, Content Analysis, Refugee Policy, Political Discourse, and Social Impact.
How does the framing shift in the Süddeutsche Zeitung over time?
The coverage evolves from blaming refugee policy initially to a broader focus that encompasses both stricter refugee management and the need for reforms in sexual criminal law.
What unique role does Henriette Reker play in the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung coverage?
Henriette Reker is noted for defining the problem not through the actual state of events, but via the perspective of a target state, specifically emphasizing the necessity for women to feel safe in public spaces.
How do both newspapers compare in their framing patterns?
While the newspapers show similar development patterns—moving from general refugee suspicion to concrete legislative and security-related measures—they differ in the specific solutions they advocate, such as sexual criminal law reforms versus internal security improvements in NRW.
- Quote paper
- Sarah Höchst (Author), 2016, A framing analysis of German news coverage of the events of Cologne's New Year's Eve using the example of the Süddeutsche Zeitung and the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1243798
