Political Communication Culture in the United States and Germany

Abstract

This article analyzes the norms and communication roles that govern the interaction between political spokespeople and journalists in the center of the governmental systems in the United States and Germany. Using data from an exploratory study of political spokespeople and journalists, the empirical reconstruction of actors' attitudes points to a media-driven political communication culture in the United States and a politically motivated political communication in Germany. The differences are understood as the expression and consequence of a presidential governmental system and the stark commercialization of the U.S media, as compared to a system of party government and a politicized media system in Germany.