Framing the Hacker: Media Representations and Public Discourse in Germany

This paper examines how the figure of the hacker is portrayed in German mainstream media and explores the impact of media framing on public discourse. Through a longitudinal content analysis of 301 articles from four of the most widely circulated German newspapers (Die Zeit, Süddeutsche Zeitung, Bild, and Der Spiegel), the study covers reporting between January 2017 and January 2020. The results reveal a strong predominance of negative connotations and dramatizing frames that link hackers to criminality, national security threats, and digital warfare. Drawing on media effects theory, scandalization mechanisms, and constructivist media theory, the article shows how media representations co-construct public perceptions of IT-related risks. The analysis emphasizes the role of agenda setting, framing, and media reality in shaping societal narratives around hackers. The study concludes by reflecting on the broader implications for IT security education and the sociopolitical challenges posed by distorted representations of digital actors.