The Framing of Food Poverty/Insecurity and Rhetorics of Social Inclusion/Exclusion in the German Newspaper Discourse (2018–2024)

Abstract This article examines how food poverty and insecurity have been framed in German newspaper discourse from 2018 to 2024, and how these representations construct notions of social inclusion and exclusion within public discourse. Using a mixed-methods approach that integrates deductive and inductive qualitative analysis, Foucauldian discourse theory, and hierarchical cluster analysis, the study identifies three dominant media frames: Structural Injustice and Market Failure, which emphasizes systemic inequality; Political Failure and Social Neglect, which foregrounds state inaction while sometimes perpetuating stigmatization; and Humanitarian Crisis and Ethical Responsibility, which mobilizes moral concern but often depoliticizes the issue. The analysis reveals that individuals affected by food poverty are largely absent from or passively portrayed within these narratives, including during periods of heightened media attention such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings suggest that prevailing media framings constrain the discursive space for recognizing structural causes of poverty and inhibit inclusive policymaking. The article argues for a shift toward participatory, rights-based communication strategies that foreground lived experiences and challenge exclusionary rhetorical norms, contributing to broader discussions on media responsibility and social justice in public discourse.