Scandals

This entry describes the characteristics of scandalization and media coverage. The entry explains the term “scandal” theoretically and shows the historic background of the social phenomenon. Cultural and journalistic influences are fundamental for the establishment of a scandal and are highlighted here. The entry then differentiates between localized and mediated scandals at the present time. The actor triad in scandalization processes, containing scandalized and scandalizing actors as well as recipients is explained. Mediated scandals are characterized by a sequential structure which can be divided into four or five phases. The entry concludes with current research directions and works.