Media of Social Work in Germany

This presentation is part of the proposed symposium on Media Representation of Social Work: Lessons from a comparative transnational research, co-ordinated by Elena Allegri (sub. ID 129) In the theoretical debates in... [ view full abstract ]

This presentation is part of the proposed symposium on Media Representation of Social Work: Lessons from a comparative transnational research, co-ordinated by Elena Allegri (sub. ID 129)

In the theoretical debates in Germany, the issue of media representation, public and social work is very little although the media has a crucial impact on shaping and reflecting the public opinion.

This paper focuses on the media presentation of social work under two points of view: first the manner in which social work is represented in different types of media (TV and newspapers), and secondly on the subjective perception of social workers and clients in relation to the representation of social work.

Methodologically, under the first focus categories a content analysis was applied to include the representations of clients, of social topics, of social organisations, of social workers being in charge of, and politicians. Comparison of the perspectives and emphasis relating to social work issues of the different media follows. Under the second focus expert interviews and a focus group interview were applied to include the self-perception of social workers and clients in the media.

Several questions will be raised: From the viewpoint of the interviewees, there is only a marginal connection between the medial presentation of social work and their personal reality. The clients (with mental disabilities) felt that they were not medially represented; they find that their problems are not to be found in the media. Instead, they saw a lack seriousness in relation to the subject matter and a general trivialization of mental illness. Further more: how should social works deal/communicate with the media?

Submitted 29th October 2014


r.puhl@katho-nrw.de