Abstract
The Badeni language ordinances of 1897, equalization of Czech and German as inner official languages in Bohemia, and following German obstruction of the Imperial Council, caused a wave of riots and demonstrations in Cisleithania. Media played a crucial role in the transfer of the tensions to the public space, with its daily coverage of violence in the parliament, political manifestations, and attacks targeting members of the Czech minority. This connection is even more visible in the smaller cities, where journalists often advocated a more radical stance towards nationalism. They promoted merciless acts and even violence not only in their articles, but often also personally, often facing legal repercussions after. One of them was the editor of Nationale Zeitung Edmund Pummer, who, according to the county court in Most, led rioters towards violence against the Czech minority in Žatec. He was sentenced to four months of imprisonment, followed by five years of exile from Bohemia.
In my contribution, I examine this dual role of the journalist. Thus, it consists of two parts. In the first one, I will analyze Czech and German national media (Nationale Zeitung) to present the strategies media used to mobilize citizens towards nationally motivated violence. In the second part, I will depict chosen journalists as local nationalist leaders and show, how they directly influenced the way violence was exercised during the riots of 1897.