This panel seeks to explore different aspects of political communication research, with a special focus the role the media play in European politics and European political behaviour. A growing number of studies in the social sciences investigate the effects the media have on everyday politics and on citizens’ voting behaviour and political opinions. Such political communication research thus examines the interchanging relationships between three sets of actors: politicians, the media and the public. The papers in this panel shine a light on these actors from a distinctly European perspective. Paper 1 examines the relationship between politicians and the media in four European countries. Paper 2 presents a content analysis of news media content and Papers 3 and 4 examine the influences of the political news media on European citizens voting behaviour and attitudes.