How to paint a picture : A discourse analysis of the media portrayal of hacker attacks against vital societal functions in Sweden

Sammanfattning: In our highly digitalized society, the dependence on digital solutions and systems is integral to the function of society. While digitalization has brought numerous benefits, it has also exposed society to vulnerabilities, making it susceptible to cyberattacks. The structure of vital societal functions, involving private subcontractors and long and digital supply chains. Along with the cooperation between public and private entities having inherent weaknesses it has created a vulnerable system. As vital societal functions bear the responsibility for public services and the protection of the personal information in their possession, it is crucial that they remain open to critical examination. Due to the complexity of cybersecurity and closely related subjects, the media plays an important role in conveying a nuanced depiction of the hacker attacks and establishing important connections to closely related discourses. This is essential for fostering critical examination and public debate, especially considering the assumed limited prior knowledge of the public. This thesis examines in what way cyberattacks against vital societal functions are portrayed in the Swedish media discourses and what connections to closely related discourses are being made. The focus is specifically on New Public Management, Public-Private Partnership, and Digital Supply Chains. Through a discourses analysis using an analytical framework inspired by Carol Bacchi, this thesis concludes that cyberattacks against vital societal functions are represented in a simplified way. The vital connections to other discourses are few and weak, resulting in a content-poor discourse that possibly hinders both critical examination and a public discussion on the subject.