The German media as amplifier of the political agenda: The economic policy framing of European conflicts in times of COVID-19

Abstract

Especially in times of (corona) crisis, the German press plays a crucial role in communicating Germany’s economic policy orientation, influencing how the crisis is communicated to the public. The issue of joint European debt has never been more visible than in these times, as has the threat of a new euro crisis—Italy in focus. This study explores the German media framing of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) using Italy as an example. Applying quantitative content analysis, the relative prevalence of frames rooted in competing economic policy paradigms (neoliberal/Keynesian) in press coverage from February to July 2020 is examined. The Keynesian paradigm dominates coverage. Using logit analysis, issue-specific neoliberal frames are identified as solution oriented, while Keynesian frames focus on evaluations. With Germany's policy shift regarding European joint debt and toward European greater fiscal integration, a paradigm shift is observable. Overall, findings demonstrate a relatively paradigmatic pluralistic reporting.

German and Albanian Media in Political and Social Change: Challenges, Patterns, and Deviations

“…Furthermore, the impact of media reporting on government approval varies depending on the ruling party, with social democrats facing harsher penalties than Christian democrats. Teschendorf (2022) studied how the German press framed economic policy during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly focusing on the issue of joint European debt and the potential of a new euro crisis, using Italy as a case study. The study observed a paradigm shift in German media, moving from neoliberal to Keynesian views, reflecting Germany's policy shift towards European joint debt and greater fiscal integration.…”