Against the background of racist acts of violence in unified Germany, this article investigates what role the mass media have played in the ethnization of social relationships. The analysis suggess that the media play a key role in the process in which immigrants are turned into 'aliens', and in the way they are treated by indigenous residents. Television, radio and newspapers do not create everyday racism, but they do spread and strengthen racist ideology. The media's presentation of the situation of refugees and of attacks on ethnic minorities often leave the impression that one must fend off impending danger. In this way, prejudices, stereotypes and cliches are cemented, prejudices which in many Germans were formed during childhood.

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