Throughout history, in crisis situations, propaganda and manipulative techniques aimed at the masses have often been used. Likewise, during the first lockdown, on many portals such as Index.hr, one could notice the intensive use of manipulative communication techniques when reporting on COVID-19 for the purpose of creating patterns of behavior and shaping public opinion. Therefore, the work is based on the analysis of media content, i.e. the analysis of the manipulative techniques used in the announcements about COVID-19 on the Index.hr portal in the period from March 1, 2020. until 15 .4. 2020. After the processed theory and collected secondary data, the content analysis was approached using a qualitative and quantitative method in order to answer the questions "How?" and "How much?" and to create a basis for data generalization. The research provided an insight into the media's use of appeals to fear, selling fear, appealing to authority, managing conformity and the combination of various spin techniques in the observed period. The most important knowledge of the work is the ability to recognize media patterns related to the use of manipulation techniques at a certain moment, depending on the communication goal. The results of the content analysis can represent the basis for further research, such as an in-depth interview with journalists or editors of the Index.hr portal for the purpose of examining communication goals in the observed period.