Much Ado About Hacking? How News Media in Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States Report Cyber Threats

Abstract

Cyber security has become a key challenge for governments, companies, and citizens. This study conceptualizes media reporting as the phenomenon that binds these actors together. However, we know little about how threats to cyber security are reported. As a first step towards filling this gap, this study examines the reporting done by leading quality news websites in Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Building on media reality theory and framing theory, a content analysis of 581 news articles related to cyber threats was conducted. U.K. news outlets alone accounted for more than half of the articles. In all three countries, hacking was by far the most prominent issue. There was also a clear focus on domestic events and actors. To conclude, media realities are typically shaped by national perspectives, despite the fact that cyber threats are a global phenomenon. Our findings furthermore imply that the news media successfully contributes to raising audiences' awareness of cyber threats but rarely discusses behaviors that would improve cyber security.