What happens when the media

coverage on the EU increases?

Chris Aalberts

Media and the EUwww.chrisaalberts.nl

Introduction

• Researcher in political communication• Books on: populism, social media, spin

doctoring, European Union, youth

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Introduction

• The EU in the media• Plea for more EU coverage

• European institutions• European parliament• What would EU coverage look like? • Possible consequences

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The EU in the media (1)

Lack of EU coverage• Almost no television coverage• No prominent stories in newspapers• Blogs follow the regular news agenda• Attention is focused on summits and referenda

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The EU in the media (2)

Characteristics of EU coverage• National focus• Only politicians from home country• National politicians talking about the EU• Negative tone

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Plea for EU coverage (1)

Ideal of informed citizenship• Cornerstone of democracy• Information about the EU should be available• Citizens should inform themselves• This should lead to informed political decisions• Impossible because a lack of media coverage

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Plea for EU coverage (2)

Implicit idea: knowledge leads to support• Proof is not completely clear• The view of believers in the EU• In the Dutch referendum, uninformed citizens

were most negative about the European Constitution

• More links between knowledge and support• Knowledge will lead to positive EU associations• So if there is no information available…

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Plea for EU coverage (3)

European Commission• Making life of journalists easier• Creating incentives to write about Europe• Help for journalists• Easier press releases

Structural problem• Journalists are focused on their publics• The public is largely uninterested

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Plea for EU coverage (4)

European Commission• Seems to know that this plea will be

unsuccessful• Different routes to knowledge about the EU• Largest website on earth• Websites for different target groups• Information offices• Support for public education

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A future study

More media coverage is better• Many Dutch policies come from Brussels• Many problems cannot be solved without

cooperation• Our lives are affected by the EU every day

Future study• Assume this dream comes true• What would happen?

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European institutions

Which institutions would be covered? • European Central Bank• European Commission• European Council• European Parliament

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European Central Bank (1)

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European Central Bank (2)

What would people learn? • Major economic decisions are made in

Frankfurt• There is no democratic control over this• The Netherlands tries to follow the rules• Other countries do not• This is why the government cuts everything

(This is the situation already)

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European Commission (1)

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European Commission (2)

What would people learn?• The Commission is not like the Dutch

government• There is no coalition and no opposition• A new government brings new policies• In Europe, policies are always the same• Barroso was not elected

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European Council (1)

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European Council (2)

What would people learn? • Political leaders make mutual agreements• These agreements are compromises• Many citizens disagree with these

compromises• It is impossible to change the outcomes

afterwards• The opinion of the Dutch parliament is relevant

in theory, not in practice

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European Parliament (1)

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European Parliament (1)

European Parliament (2)

What would people learn? • Dutch parties do not play a role in Brussels• Dutch representatives are a very small group• The Dutch are represented by other

nationalities• The leaders of European parties are unknown

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European Parliament (3)

What would people learn? • Brussels is more important than The Hague• Political issues are detailed and technical• Many compromises behind closed doors• Dutch interests do not play a role• Dutch MEPs are not present in major debates

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European Parliament (4)

What would people learn?• There are no great differences of opinion• Many decisions made by large majorities• This does not represent the opinions of the

Dutch• Opinions of citizens are not a major factor• Citizens can not have an influence in Brussels

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Summary

More media coverage makes people more aware of• The amount of political decisions taken• The consensus about integration in Brussels• The influence of other countries on Holland• The neglect of Dutch interests or opinions• The impossibility for citizens to have an

influence

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Conclusion

• Media coverage on Brussels is important• Democracy suffers from the lack of coverage

• Media coverage is an issue of europhiles• They believe more coverage leads to more

support

• Media coverage should be an issue of eurosceptics

• Coverage would make citizens even more sceptic than they already are

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Images

• Television: Everaldo Coelho• European flags: Xavier Hape• Newspapers: Stefano Corso• Binoculars: Batholith• European Central Bank: Ssolbergj• J.M. Barroso: Europaportalen.se• European Council: Rijksoverheid• European Parliament: JLogan

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