The Framing of Nanotechnology in German Press Media : 2000 to 2007

Basic data for this project

Description

This content analysis examines German media coverage of nanotechnology between January2000 and December 2007 in a total of 1,696 articles published in the national qualitynewspapers Financial Times Deutschland, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, FrankfurterRundschau, Süddeutsche Zeitung, taz, Die Welt, the news magazines Focus and DerSpiegel, and the weekly newspaper Die Zeit. The results show that on average 212 articleswere published every year. After the peak of 248 articles in 2004, there was a decline in coverageto 170 articles in 2007. The main topics covered are "fundamental research" and the"application information and communication technologies". The central actors are "persons/institutions in the field of science" and "economic actors". Overall, the media coverageof nanotechnology very much focussed on the potential benefits of the technology. Risks areonly discussed to a minor degree. In a framing analysis five issue-specific frames were identified:"Research and Development", "Progress in information and communication technologies","Economic use", "Medical benefit" and the "Risk-opportunity debate".