Franz Josef Strauß und sein Verhältnis zu dem Hamburger Nachrichtenmagazin 〉Der Spiegel〈

Social sciences have repeatedly concerned themselves with the question of how politics and mass media relate to one another. This article, taking the form of a study in recent communication history, discusses a concrete example in this context: the relationship of the long-term leader of the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU), Franz Josef Strauß, and the Hamburg news magazine 〈Der Spiegel〉 Beginning with 〈Spiegel〉 publisher Rudolf Augstein’s openly declared intention of protecting democracy from Strauß by preventing him to become federal chancellor, it is analyzed whether, and to what degree, Strauß’s national political career might have been affected by information and opinions published by 〈Der Spiegel〉.