Good chances for a summer fairy tale 2: Media help to allay fears

Media coverage of migrants and refugees 2002-2015

Rapperswil, September 8th, 2015. Despite increasing numbers of refugees, the openness of the Germans for the admission of war refugees and victims of persecution has increased significantly since of 2004. Der TAGESSPIEGEL reported on September 7, 2015 in his CAUSA edition that in 2015 only 18% of Germans agree with the statement that "we cannot receive any more foreigners". The latest Media Tenor long-term study shows that German key media contribute significantly to this development: They use less and less old stereotypes, but combine a rising intensity of reporting with a larger pluralism of topics. Being affected personally - like Claus Kleber, who could not hide his own emotions in view of the commitment of Germans - leads to more reports on the initiatives in the host countries. Each subsequent report in turn generates even more activities. Thus, Germans more and more seize the opportunity for a second summer fairy tale, because after 2006, the eyes of the world are directed to Germany again - and again the people from Flensburg to Regensburg provide editors on all continents with mostly impressive images and headlines.

Above all, the television news and political magazines have increasingly dealt with the shortcomings of asylum policies and thus strengthened a rethinking in politics. In addition, for example, the BILD newspaper shows how Germans are turning toward the newcomers and thus isolates xenophobic violent offenders in society. Despite the flood of bad news many media in recent months have also become more open to concrete solutions. While reports on the plight of refugees stimulated the willingness to help and donate, at the same time the open criticism of migrants decreased significantly – which as well cuts off racists from public support.

The media increasingly provide a comparison with the period after the end of World War II: Although the Marshall Plan channeled the necessary funds to Europe, only with the 15 million refugees from the East came the people who turned that capital into economic power. The flashbacks to the 70s and 80s and the fate of the boat people from Vietnam shows as well how immigrants have brought a new impetus to Germans in the West and in the East. Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan points out the potential benefit from the immigration of young and active new citizens from Africa and Eastern Europe for the overaged European societies on the German-African Business Summit in Berlin on September 9th, 2015 and in an advance interview with ZDF Heute Journal: http://www.zdf.de/ZDF/zdfportal/programdata/d74d6c90-b21f-3ce8-a1ec-0876d43191a4/cb2109e6-185a-4fb2-b0da-03213958569f?doDispatch=2

For this study 695,248 news stories from 6 opinion-leading German TV and print media have been evaluated by Media Tenor analysts. Since 1994 Media Tenor is dedicated to the goal of improving the supply of objective, diverse and relevant news and to promote exchanges between news-makers and those who are affected by the news.

For more information please contact Dr. Christian Kolmer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or +49 176 19 13 45 12