Martin Schulz is everywhere

Martin Schulz was chosen to be the next candidate in the race against Angela Merkel. It was obvious that Gabriel is not popular enough to become a real threat to Merkel. When Schulz started claiming that he is aiming for chancellorship and withdrew from Europe’s politics, I didn’t have a negative opinion about him, but I have to admit that he was not on my radar. Since that, the news media started reporting about him and constantly new reports and statements about and of him have been published. Looking at the homepage of the Stern, five of thirteen feeds, are exclusively about him.

In doing so, the media makes him more and more popular, thus creating a real battle for chancellorship. The Fourth Estate uses its power and supports his popularity, which is the necessity for having a chance at all. Generally speaking, all over the news reporters state that he is the best choice in being a possible threat to Merkel and standing a chance. The more you hear it, the more you believe it.

Besides this, the news media promotes another feature that is new to influencing the popularity of politicians: Memes.

The Spiegel wrote an article about Schulz being used for Memes and being everywhere on the internet, thus, making him more popular again. These memes, moreover, show him as powerful and likable. Therefore, publishing these on the Spiegel website, creates a positive picture of Schulz and makes him popular, especially with young people. This creates an interest of young people in Schulz as a person. Being everywhere on the internet, people start to read more about him, consequently. Moreover, the media can consistently report about him, after introducing him properly.

In how far this influence will create an interesting race for the position, we will see. For sure, we will read more and more about him.