The medial representation of protests is both a symbol of the equity of democratic participation and a manifestation of societal power structures. For the protesters, the media serve as a gateway to broad public attention. But just the language used in the reports can already marginalize or criminalize protest. Sarah Ertl investigates the (implications of) protest reporting in its democratic foundations along different case studies. She also focuses on the phenomenon of »astroturfing« - for-profit organizations launching supposedly grassroots protest.