New Genetic Technologies (NGTs) as Mirrored by Mass Media - Topics and Frames of Genetic Editing in German Press

This study examines the portrayal of New Genetic Technologies (NGTs), particularly CRISPR/Cas9, in German mass media from 2012 to 2023 — a period marked by significant advancements in biotechnology and pivotal regulatory developments within the European Union. Recognizing the media’s critical role in shaping public perception and affecting policy, we analyzed articles from four major German newspapers: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Süddeutsche Zeitung, taz, and DIE WELT. Employing topic modelling and frame analysis, we identified prevailing topics and interpretative frames within the coverage, thereby assessing broader trends in issue coverage and particular ways media portrayed NGT adoption in the agricultural sector as well as the food industry. In the course of our analysis, we first find notable media interest and an increasing share of articles reporting on the latter. Second, the topic model uncovered two dominant topics, which we labelled accordingly: agriculture & food production and medicine & human health, with the former likewise gaining prominence in recent years. Third, our frame analysis indicated that positive frames — particularly progress and agricultural productivity — were more prevalent than critical frames like ecology and public rejection. Following a historically critical media perspective surveyed by the existing literature on traditional genetic technologies, our findings suggest a media shift towards a more favorable portrayal of NGTs, especially in the context of agriculture. In light of these results, our study underscores the media’s potential influence on public attitudes and regulatory outcomes concerning NGTs.