DEBATE TOPICS AND PATTERNS OF MEDIA COVERAGE OF NUTRITION IN GERMANY
DEBATE TOPICS AND PATTERNS OF MEDIA COVERAGE OF NUTRITION IN GERMANY

Summary/Abstract: The topic of nutrition is of great interest in German media, but the patterns of media coverage vary as regards content, approach, or form. This paper presents the findings of a research which aimed to identify, at a general level, the major debate topics and the related issues on the subject of nutrition and food, as well as the main characteristics of the corresponding media coverage. At a specific level, different research questions focused both on the content and the form of the media messages. In this regard, a thematic content analysis of the German online media over a three-year period was conducted. According to the research results, the most common debate topics concerning nutrition were those related to health, diets, and the risks associated with nutrition and food, especially those pointing health, medical conditions and environment. Such topics were addressed by the German media over the considered time frame mostly in detailed articles, containing analyzes, reviews and viewpoints, and attended by a considerable number of photos and videos, largely emphasizing the importance of healthy nutrition and health food, and giving many recommendations and useful information in this matter. At the same time, however, creating a certain paradox, media constantly attempted to animate food and drink, mediatizing countless foods and drinks, some of them unhealthy, and generally numerous culinary delights and temptations.

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