Media Disturbances. The Structures and Functions of Special News Broadcasts in German Political Media Culture.

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Disturbances are seen as a disruption of a functional logic. They signify restrictions of a socially defined normality and are productive for modern societies, because they remain in the memory and induce changes. Disturbances create a common understanding of what is recognized as normal, and they assert a need to restore normality. The construction and communication of disturbances occurs through mass media. Within this process, special news broadcasts play a central role. These programs, mostly provided by public stations, deal with causes, with persons responsible for the disturbances, with victims and affected persons, with the extent of the problem and with perspectives on how to solve the problems. In addition, these programs also lead a discussion about the consequences of a resolution and the perspectives of a following normalization. The project will focus on the coverage of disturbances and mechanisms of dealing with them by and within the special broadcasts. It will examine how disturbances, resolutions, consequences of resolutions, and the re-establishment of a symbolic order are discussed, defined, staged and (ritually) processed. This is done in the context of five research questions: 1. What is the functional logic of special news broadcasts? What are the criteria for the process of selection? How are programming and editorial decisions made? How does the production process work? 2. What are the aesthetical elements that contribute to the medial construction and resolution of disturbances (framing, program flow, dramaturgy, studio setting, visual language etc.)? 3. What are the symbolic resources used in the broadcasts? 4. How do the special broadcasts develop their potentials to resolve disturbances, normalize the situation and re-establish the symbolical order? 5. What is the role of social media applications, in particular in the interaction with the audience in the programs? The empirical part of the analysis will make use of the concept of ethnographically embedded video analysis. First, we will analyze audiovisual data (recordings of about 120 special news broadcasts). Second, we will interview media staff persons acting in front of and behind the cameras. Finally, document analyses will complete the empirical strategy together with observational methods. Five dimensions of processing disturbances through special news broadcasts will be examined in detail: intensity, topicity, temporality, performativity and mediality. The aim is to develop a typology of how the media construct and cover disturbances, their resolution, and the re-establishment of order. The results of the research promise new insights into the functioning of political media culture in a contemporary society.