Eurosceptic Messages Vs. News with a European Agenda in the European Union

The paper is focused at the following controversial question. On the one hand, the media in a democratic society are free to put any information into public circulation; on the other hand, what should be done if the messages against the European integration become prevailing?

It is recognized in the literature that Eurosceptic messages can have a negative impact on the European integration project, e.g., Abbarno and Zapryanova (2013). Therefore, according to Metykova and Preston (2009), the EU needs a 'shared journalistic culture' and 'shared journalistic values'. Indeed, the European Commission encourages and supports the creation of transnational audiovisual media networks with a European agenda.

In this paper I analyze how the role of the Euronews television channel is changing in the era of Euroscepticism and how this change has led to a recent European Commission’s initiative on creating a European radio network in 15 Member States. The main conclusion is that the European Commission does make efforts towards balancing Eurosceptic messages with more positive news on European affairs, which has an impact on the institutional models of media and its content.

References:

Abbarno, A. J., Zapryanova, G. (2013). Indirect Effects of Eurosceptic Messages on Citizen Attitudes toward Domestic Politics. Journal of Common Market Studies. 51 (4), 581-597.

Metykova, M., & Preston, P. (2009). An Elusive European Public Sphere: The Role of Shared Journalistic Cultures. In A. Charles (Eds.), Media in the Enlarged Europe. U.S.: Intellect Bristol, 61-68.