The Staging of Politics in Television

The presentation of politics showed itself to be strongly focussed on decision-making phases (vs development and implementation) and blanked the existing multiplicity of political alternatives almost completely out. In this way, the complexity of the political process becomes invisible. Stylistic devices, such as, for instance, ritualisation or the use of metaphors and symbols were used frequently but relatively uniformly. Creative elements in staging, such as special effects, language and cross-sectional diagrammes, were used sparingly, yet displayed an enormous variety.

There appeared to be little difference between public service and private stations. What was more decisive was the time available in the particular news formats. Overall, the analysis shows that staging in the media follows, above all, the pressure of concentration.

On the basis of the project’s findings a multimedial educational format is to be developed in 2007 and will make the strategies of staging specific to television accessible for schoolchildren at secondary level. The intention is to enable them to „read” political reporting in television and to filter out from the typical television presentation the important information on what is happening in politics to form a comprehensive opinion. The Institute is participating in developing this educational format.