Стратегии просвещения и пропаганды в медиадискурсе негосударственных сми германии в период пандемии covid-19

Балтийский регион. 2023. Т. 15. № 3. С. 29–44.

Balakina Y. V.

This study aims to analyse the strategies supporting the German Government’s biopolitical
health and life protection practices and how they were promoted in the discourse of non-state
media outlets during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is assumed that non-state media used various
pandemic communication strategies to achieve common biopolitical goals, striking a balance
between propaganda and outreach. A comparative analysis was conducted of German publications
that focused on the pandemic and appeared during the four waves (January 2020 —
March 2022). A total of 54,515 texts from the German media (Süddeutsche Zeitung, Die Zeit,Die Tageszeitung) were examined. Methodologically, the study draws on the Herman-Chomsky
propaganda model and Jacques Ellul’s concept. The results show that non-state media
employ different communication strategies in line with the filters of the Herman-Chomsky
model. All the media outlets maintained a balance between propaganda and public outreach,
supporting the Government’s biopolitical programme whilst prioritising their own interests.
It can be concluded that the strategies chosen by the non-state media outlets instilled a sense
of confidence, prompting the public to comply with the restrictions and measures consistent
with the biopolitical agenda of the state.

Keywords: Германия, медиа, media, propaganda, пропаганда, биополитика, biopolitics, пандемия, pandemic, Germany