Recognising the Iceberg

The sensitivity of the traditional media to the political rise of the far right

Abstract

This study investigates how national media in Germany and Brazil covered far-right political groups during key elections, addressing the problem of whether the press recognised these groups as distinct from mainstream parties and as potential threats to democracy. Using a qualitative content analysis of digital newspaper headlines published in the year leading up to the elections that brought the Alternative for Germany (AfD) into parliament in Germany and Jair Bolsonaro to the presidency in Brazil, the research examines variations in media neutrality, sentiment, and thematic focus. The findings reveal a contrast in media treatment. German outlets framed the AfD through a critical lens, highlighting its extremism and the problematic background of its main figures. In contrast, Brazilian media largely normalised Bolsonaro’s candidacy, treating it as an equivalent political alternative and overlooking his controversial background.