Deficits in German news coverage of economic and financial crises: A case study of the Italian Sovereign debt crisis

Abstract

The German press plays a crucial role in communicating Germany’s economic policy orientation, especially in relevant European discussions. The coverage of the Italian debt crisis in German newspapers/magazine is examined for predefined quality criteria. Findings show deficits in balance, neutrality and analytical quality: German press coverage focusses on few topics, journalists incorporate their value judgments and opinions into news and reports. From the German perspective, there is an obvious bias against the Italian government’s position.