The media image of the Roman Catholic Church during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Sociologists of religion, particularly in Poland, have thus far given limited attention to the role of modern media in analyzing the processes of the transformation of religion and religiosity. When such analyses were conducted, newer media were primarily perceived as novel venues for religious practices. Content analysis, if undertaken, typically relied on materials from traditional media, neglecting internet mechanisms such as algorithms. The objective of this article is to propose a research method that allows for a comprehensive analysis of the potential impact of media messages on religious transformations and religiosity in Polish society. The suggested methodological approaches may serve as inspiration for sociologists conducting research in both qualitative and quantitative paradigms. Alongside methodological proposals, I also present the results of a preliminary analysis of patterns of interpretation in the Polish media discourse surrounding three significant themes broadly related to religion, religiosity, and religious affiliations. Throughout this research process, the presence of all overarching patterns of interpretation was confirmed, with some individual frame packages undergoing modifications.