On December 20, 2024, a tragic attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, left five dead and over 200 injured. This incident serves as a striking example of how Western media frames events, particularly when the perpetrator does not fit conventional narratives.
The attacker, a Saudi Arabian doctor known for his atheistic and anti-Islamic stance, challenged traditional media patterns, prompting a unique framing of the event.
Framing the attacker’s identity and ideology
Media coverage often uses an attacker’s identity and ideology as a tool for framing events.
Had the perpetrator been a Muslim, familiar tropes like ‘radical Islam’ or ‘jihad’ might have dominated headlines, branding the incident as an ‘Islamist terror attack.’ However, in Magdeburg’s case, the narrative shifted. Instead of collective blame tied to a religious identity, the attacker’s atheistic beliefs and personal psychological issues became the focal points. This stands in contrast to how Muslim attackers are frequently portrayed as collective threats, while atheistic perpetrators are individualised, with emphasis placed on personal motives and ideological inclinations.
Hegemony and media narratives
Antonio Gramsci’s theory of hegemony posits that media reinforces dominant ideologies by framing events within particular contexts. In this case, the coverage of the Magdeburg attack reflected this process by diverging from typical narratives associated with Muslim perpetrators.
• Handelsblatt highlighted the attacker’s sympathy for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and his anti-Islamic rhetoric, focusing on his ideological leanings.
• Die Welt examined the perpetrator’s criticisms of hate speech laws and his social media activity, further framing his motivations within an ideological framework.
Cultural codes and news values
Stuart Hall’s theory of cultural codes emphasises that media frames events in ways that resonate with audience values and perceptions. For Muslim attackers, the narrative often centres around a ‘threat’ framing, while atheistic attackers are portrayed through individual stories and ideological contexts.
• Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung underlined the attacker’s self-description as ‘history’s most aggressive critic of Islam,’ aiming for a neutral framing by emphasising his personal traits.
• BBC News noted how the incident reignited debates on Islamophobia but avoided collective blame narratives often associated with Muslim perpetrators.
Theoretical framework: Media framing
The media’s handling of the Magdeburg attack can be analysed through several theoretical lenses.
Framing theory
The media’s presentation of events shapes public perception. Muslim attackers are often framed as collective threats, while non-Muslim attackers are individualised.
News values theory
The attacker’s identity added newsworthiness due to its deviation from conventional narratives.
Hegemony and ideology
Media reinforces dominant ideologies by selectively highlighting or downplaying certain aspects. The relative invisibility of the attacker’s Islamophobic views reflects this tendency.
Cultural codes
Muslim attackers are frequently coded as ‘threats,’ while non-Muslims are given a more nuanced and individualised portrayal.
Social constructionism
Media narratives construct collective identities or ‘the other.’ In this case, the attacker’s individuality overshadowed broader ideological implications.
Power dynamics and public perception
Michel Foucault’s theory of power and knowledge suggests that media can shape societal control mechanisms through its framing of events. In the Magdeburg case, downplaying the attacker’s Islamophobic rhetoric reflects existing power dynamics and avoids challenging dominant narratives.
When Muslim attackers are involved, the media often reinforces Islamophobic discourse. In contrast, framing atheistic attackers as individuals dilutes the ideological critique and reduces scrutiny. This selective framing contributes to constructing societal realities, where Muslim perpetrators are linked to collective threats, and non-Muslim attackers are individualised, even excused.
The Magdeburg attack is a crucial reflection of the fact that framing strategies shape societal discourse and public perception, reflecting underlying asymmetries in media narratives.
Media literacy and critical media studies are essential tools for unpacking such ideological biases and asymmetries. The Magdeburg case demonstrates how media discourse shapes societal perceptions, highlighting the need for critical engagement with framing strategies to promote social justice and equality.
Dr. Yasemin Giritli İnceoğlu is a visiting professor at the Media and Communications Department, London School of Economics.
