Polarised media framing of climate movements: A comparative mixed-methods analysis of Australia and Germany

This study investigates the media framing of climate movements in Australia and Germany. Media frames are powerful tools for shaping public perceptions of social issues. While previous research has focused on activists’ framing strategies, this study analyses how climate movements themselves are portrayed by news media outlets. Using a mixed-methods approach – combining qualitative and computational content analysis – it pioneers a dual-language methodology (English and German), advancing automated frame analysis. The comparative analysis considers media outlets’ political leanings, country contexts and climate movement diversity. Results show that right-leaning outlets frame climate movements more negatively, portraying them as threats to societal cohesion rather than solutions to a climate crisis. Furthermore, the Australian media landscape demonstrates less framing diversity compared to Germany. Findings are discussed in relation to their potential to shape public opinion, influence societal norms around protest legitimacy and contribute to polarisation in democratic societies.