United in Grief? Emotional Communities Around the Far-Right Terrorist Attack in Hanau

Drawing on theories of affect, emotion, and new institutionalism, we analyze discourse around the right-wing terrorist attack in Hanau, Germany, to identify different ways which emotions affect circulate legacy media Twitter how they help establish varying emotional communities. Building upon an understanding journalism as affective institution, our article takes a close look at attempts assert its role public spheres not only by circulating information but also providing interpretations events. Journalism’s interpretations, however, do remain unchallenged. With emergence hybrid system, users engage various forms interaction social platforms, forming “affective publics” connecting through their reactions current issues In these interactions, distinct communities may emerge, built performative, political emotions. Our data comprises news shows aired German service broadcaster ARD well dataset tweets about #Hanau that were collected immediate aftermath attack. The results mixed-methods analysis reveal performances grief played central both TV media. On TV, was nationally connotated aimed uniting Germany’s population. media, it fueled anti-racist activism, seen hashtag #SayTheirNames, honoring victims