Europe in the Media: A Comparison of Reporting, Representation, and Rhetoric in National Media Systems in Europe

Europe in the Media draws together the results of several research projects that examined media coverage of European political and cultural affairs and media representations of Europe. The book attempts to outline some of the important debates regarding European integration and to describe the media landscape in which these debates are informed, reflected, and facilitated. The research presented sought to answer several questions, namely the role of the media in the democratic process at the European level and the extent to which the media contributes to and reflects the process of European integration. The book provides a wide scope of comparative analysis, allowing for an extremely interesting overview of the way that national media systems in France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom approach the issue of European integration. Based on the news output of over 50 media outlets in eight countries, this book contains the original data gathered by experts during two 1-week monitoring periods, as well as data that was collected and coded by experts with reference to the programming of more than 12 major broadcasters in six countries. This volume addresses debates and analysis from the fields of political science in relation to the process of European integration, EU policymaking and public participation and opinion-formation. It also outlines relevant media theory regarding the relationships between the media and democracy, and the media and identity formation. In this way, the book provides a valuable link between these two separate fields of investigation in an area that is of increasing interest to academics, students, politicians, and journalists.