Content Analysis in the Research Field of Economic News Coverage

Abstract

Economics have become an integral part of the private and public sphere and are also gaining political importance. Whether financial and economic crises, corporate insolvencies, or the general job market—economic issues are not only highly relevant on a societal level, but also matter to individuals on a personal level, as for example seen with employees or consumers. Furthermore, events that are not primarily economic in nature can have a strong impact on the economy, the Covid-19 pandemic being a prime example. Journalism can be considered the most important actor within public economic communications. Considering the diversity of the field and thus the heterogeneity of existing research, a selection of the most recent literature using standardized content analyses will be reviewed and discussed in this article.