THE MEMORY OF THE MEDIA

This study discusses the role mass media of communication play in the construction of collective memory, basing on some research done on Polish and German media. The sample covers the years 1998-2006. Using the analytic tools given by the news values theory and framing, the author concentrates on history as a theme of media coverage (with a stress on anniversary journalism) and on a 'history conflict frame', typical for Polish media coverage on Germany. Mass media of communication in both countries are presented as transmitters and main actors of public debates on history. The results of the analysis showed that media can play both a destructive and constructive role in the process of collective memory building and proliferating. Among the study's other findings are that the effects of media coverage are more visible in setting the agenda than in the changes of the public's attitudes.