Between innovation and concern. The coverage of materials science in the German print media

Abstract This study examines the media representation of materials science, a field that hitherto has escaped scholarly attention. Building on the concept of medialization, a content analysis of materials science-related topics across eight German press outlets is conducted to assess the extent, variety and controversy of the media reports. Controversy is operationalised through the identification of media frames using the cluster analysis of frame elements. The study shows that relative to other scientific disciplines, materials science receives limited media attention. Despite a range of topics, actors and frames within the resulted sample, certain recurring themes emerge, reflecting a notable degree of homogeneity across the three dimensions analysed. The coverage is dominated by scientific and economic aspects, underlining the role of materials science in technological innovation and economic development. Although materials science cannot yet be regarded as a medialized discipline, its media presence extends beyond the mere dissemination of scientific results.