Some Things Take Time

Human trafficking (HT) can lead to other types of crime, such as kidnapping, smuggling, and drug trafficking. According to the 2021 Global Estimates, the number of victims is rapidly growing and in 2021 stood at 49.6 million, which is almost ten million more than in 2016. This study, a quantitative content analysis of press articles in Germany, demonstrates the dynamics of coverage during the pandemic and quarantine measures. Methodologically we rely on Entman’s (1993) four-functional classification, including portraits of victims and perpetrators, moral judgments, remedies, and calls to action. In addition, the connection between the political orientation of the newspapers and the coverage of the topic is revealed. The results show, that media construct their own reality: They create a stereotypical victim and focus on certain types of HT. The topic is given a strong political connotation, and the boundaries between HT and human smuggling are blurring.