European Media Research Articles

MEDIA-EDUCATIONAL RELATIONS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC (the European media experience)

MEDIA-EDUCATIONAL RELATIONS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC (the European media experience)

Consistent Regulatory and Self-Regulatory Mechanisms for Media Freedom in the Digital Single Market. the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) as Meta-Regulation

Consistent Regulatory and Self-Regulatory Mechanisms for Media Freedom in the Digital Single Market. the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) as Meta-Regulation

Introduction: A Decade of Social Media Elections

Social media has been a part of election campaigns for more than a decade. In this special issue, we combine longitudinal and cross-national studies of social media in election campaigns, expanding the time span as well as number of countries compared to former comparative studies. The four papers present examples of longitudinal studies, covering multiple election cycles from four different countries: Australia, the United States of America, Denmark, and Italy. By including the countries mentioned, we focus on countries considered to be “first movers” when it comes to the digitization and internetization of the political life. As such, they are “most similar cases.” However, they also have different political systems: the United States and Australia are characterized by a Westminster system dominated by a few large parties and a tradition of strong confrontation between government and opposition, whereas Denmark and Italy are multi-party systems with a tradition of collaboration and coalition governments. Technologically, the four countries might be similar, but politically and in terms of media systems, they differ; the United States is characterized by a commercialized American media system with little role for public service broadcasters, Denmark has very strong public service media, and Australia has elements of both these systems. Finally, Italy represents a Southern European media system with traces of clientelism as well as public service media. Thus, studies of the four countries form a diverse yet solid set of cases for exploring the growing (and changing) role of social media in national elections.

The European Media Freedom Act (Emfa) as Meta-Regulation

The European Media Freedom Act (Emfa) as Meta-Regulation

Framing Migration in Southern European Media: Perceptions of Spanish, Italian, and Greek Specialized Journalists

ABSTRACT Greece, Italy, and Spain are the Southern European borders and the main entrances for migrants and refugees to Europe, a movement that was particularly visible after the 2015 “refugee crisis of the Mediterranean.” In this context, immigration is used as a political tool, and the object of major media coverage. However, previous studies have shown that this coverage tends to be partial and prejudiced. This study, conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, uses the frame building theory to study the perceptions of journalists covering migration issues regarding ways to improve the representation of migrants in the media of these three countries. For that, in-depth interviews were conducted with 94 Greek, Italian, and Spanish journalists. The precarity of the profession, the focus on conflictive approaches, and discrimination based on national origin or religion are mentioned as the biggest challenges. Professionals covering this information demand more individualized and deeper coverage, giving the migrants’ condition greater visibility, and giving voice to the migrants themselves, as they are the protagonists of the stories. Greater attention to journalistic ethics and the defense of vulnerable groups is considered essential to achieve this.

Funding Democracy: Public Media and Democratic Health in 33 Countries

This study examines whether and how public media systems contribute to the health of democracies in 33 countries in Europe, Africa, Asia, North America, the Middle East, Latin America, and South America. We gather national economic data and public media funding levels, audience shares, and regulatory data, primarily for 2018 and 2019 but in some cases earlier, due to lack of available data. We then assess correlations with strength of democracy indices and extend Hallin and Mancini's typology of North American and European media systems through hierarchical cluster analysis of these 33 countries. We find five models of public media systems around the world, ranging from “state-administered” systems with low levels of independence (Botswana and Tunisia) to systems aligning with Hallin and Mancini's “Democratic Corporatist” model, with strong and secure (multiyear) funding, large audience shares, and strong regulatory protection for their independence. In between, we identify three mixed models: a “Liberal-Pluralist” model, a “Direct Funding” model, and a “Commercial–Public” model. Correlations and cluster analyses show that high levels of secure funding for public media systems and strong structural protections for the political and economic independence of those systems are consistently and positively correlated with healthy democracies.

Irish Media Coverage of COVID-19 Evidence-Based Research Reports From One National Agency.

How research findings are presented through domestic news can influence behaviour and risk perceptions, particularly during emergencies such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Monitoring media communications to track misinformation and find information gaps is an important component of emergency risk communication. Therefore, this study investigated the traditional media coverage of nine selected COVID-19 evidence-based research reports and associated press releases (PRs) published during the initial phases of the pandemic (April to July 2020) by one national agency. NVivo was used for summative content analysis. 'Key messages' from each research report were proposed and 488 broadcast, print, and online media sources were coded at the phrase level. Manifest content was coded and counted to locate patterns in the data (what and how many) while latent content was analysed to further investigate these patterns (why and how). This included the coding of the presence of political and public health actors in coverage. Coverage largely did not misrepresent the results of the reports, however, selective reporting and the variability in the use of quotes from governmental and public health stakeholders changed and contextualised results in different manners than perhaps originally intended in the PR. Reports received varying levels of media attention. Coverage focused on more 'human-interest' stories (eg, spread of COVID-19 by children and excess mortality) as opposed to more technical reports (eg, focusing on viral load, antibodies, testing, etc). Our findings provide a case-study of European media coverage of evidence reports produced by a national agency. Results highlighted several strengths and weaknesses of current communication efforts.

Framing China’s mask diplomacy in Europe during the early covid-19 pandemic: seeking and contesting legitimacy through foreign medical aid amidst soft power promotion

This analysis discusses China’s soft power push in Europe, specifically focusing on mask diplomacy during the early stage of Covid-19 outbreak. Using a sample of 233 articles published by European-based news media such as the BBC, Euronews, Politico, French 24, and Der Spiegel, from March to September 2020, we argue that China’s mask diplomacy acted as two overlapping legitimacy-seeking tools, one that demonstrated the legitimacy of the CCP’s governance (authoritarian frame) and one that sought foreign gratitude and acceptance of China as a responsible global leader (leadership frame). We also argue, however, that China’s soft power effort was overshadowed by two other dominant frames found in the articles: compensation for the government's early cover-up (remedy frame) and infringement on EU solidarity and security (threat frame). Our results also show that European media tend to default to longstanding stereotypes of Yellow Peril and Orientalism. Most reports othering China as the source and spreader of Covid-19 critically portray China’s medical aid as propaganda and compensation, thereby undermining China's soft power efforts and their credibility. Additionally, the study opened up a minor, though rather novel, discussion on China's top-down management model's positive impact on handling the health crisis in China.

The Covid-19 pandemic and minority language media in Europe: the effects of spring 2020 lockdowns

ABSTRACT This article focuses on the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns in spring 2020, on the sphere of minority language media. Taking a comparative case study approach across 11 minority language settings in Europe, the research builds upon expert interviews conducted with practitioners and scholars by the present authors. This is thematically broken down into the areas of audience figures and funding implications, effects on non-news content, relations between majority and minority, logistical aspects, and social media. The findings included a mix of positive and negative aspects, which the analysis places in the context of previous theoretical concepts and legal standards related to minority languages and media. Increased audience figures and social media engagement suggest positive signs for the vitality of minority language media and the options for online breathing spaces of minority language usage. The effects on non-news content are more mixed, with issues due to cancellations as well as new innovative content having differing effects per sphere in terms of genre completeness. However, the status of minority languages and importance of minority language media outlets were insufficiently acknowledged in examples of tense minority-majority interactions as well as cases of funding issues due to reducing advertising revenues.

Media image of Ukraine

A positive image of the country on the international arena enables the state to pursue an active foreign policy, attract investment and tourist flows, and increase its prestige in the world. A positive political, economic, social, and cultural reputation in the world is very important for Ukraine, which is in a state of political crisis, military conflict in the East of the country, and at the same time has declared to uphold the European values and is aimed at joining the EU and the NATO. Ukraine is an attractive source of news in shaping the agenda of influential European media. In 2019, the catalyst of interest was the events of the presidential election campaign. This is one of the fateful periods of the country’s struggle for independence and democracy. The political course of the country in the international arena depends on the results of the will expression, which may indirectly affect the geopolitical landscape of Europe. Based on the content analysis of The Telegraph, The Guardian (UK); Die Zeit, Die Tageszeitung (Germany); Le Figaro, Le Monde (France) defined the semantic structure and emotional and evaluative tone of the media image of Ukraine.

Media coverage of evidence outputs during the COVID-19 pandemic: findings from one national agency

BackgroundThe COVID-19 Evidence Synthesis Team within the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) in Ireland produced a range of evidence-based reports on a broad range of public health topics related to COVID-19. These evidence outputs (EO) arose directly from questions posed by policy makers and clinicians supporting Ireland's National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET). Findings from these EOs informed the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland and influenced international public health guidance. How research findings are presented through domestic news can influence behaviour and risk perceptions.MethodsWe investigated traditional media coverage of nine COVID-19 EOs and associated press releases, published (April to July 2020) by HIQA. NVivo was used for conceptual content analysis of manifest content. ‘Core messages' from each evidence output were proposed and 488 sources from national and regional broadcast, print, and online media were coded at the phrase level. The presence of political and public health actors in coverage were also coded.ResultsCoverage largely did not distort or misrepresent the results of the EOs, however, there was variability in terms of what content was reported on and to what extent different stakeholders were involved in the contextualization of the findings of the EOs. Coverage appeared to focus more on ‘human-interest' stories as opposed to more technical reports (e.g. focusing on viral load, antibodies, testing, etc.). Selective reporting and the variability in the use of quotes from governmental and public health stakeholders changed and contextualized results in different manners than perhaps originally intended in the press release.ConclusionsOur findings provide a case-study of European media coverage of evidence reports produced by a national agency. Results highlighted several strengths and weaknesses of current communication efforts.

Circular alternatives to peat in growing media: A microbiome perspective

Peat use in horticulture is associated with a large ecological footprint. Peat is the predominant growing media in Europe. Modern cropping systems rely heavily on dynamic interactions of the crop with the microorganisms in the growing media and yet, in the search for sustainable peat-alternatives, the microbiome of the growing media has often been ignored. In mushroom cultivation, peat is a prime determinant of productivity, in the form of a casing soil which supplies beneficial microbes. In this study we describe the microbial composition, interactions, and activity of four circular substrates used to proportionally replace peat in mushroom growing media. We also evaluate various physico-chemical characteristics of the peat-alternatives. We characterize the impact of sanitary pre-treatments such as steaming and acidification on the microbiome as well as the agronomical performance of the peat-reduced growing media. We found that grass fibres from agricultural residue streams, peat-moss farmed in degraded peatlands, and spent casing soil recycled from previous cultivation cycles can be used to successfully replace peat in mushroom growing media. Peat moss and spent casing were expectedly similar to peat in physical, chemical, and microbiological properties. However, the grass fibres had unique characteristics, such as high organic matter content, low water holding capacity and a diverse and competitive microbiome. Pre-treatment of the substrates by acidification and steaming significantly affected the microbiome, and reduced the presence of pests, pathogens and competitive fungi in the peat-reduced media. Strong trade-offs existed between the productivity and disease pressure in the circular cropping system, which are also governed by the microbial composition of the growing media. Knowledge on the accessibility, sustainability, and economic viability of these peat-alternatives will further determine the transition away from peat use and towards sustainable growing media.

DNI’s DNA: Where Is Google’s Money in European Media?

This paper aims to investigate Google’s role in European media sustainability. In order to understand the implication of this digital intermediary in the news industry, we have analysed all of the projects funded through Google’s DNI Fund from 2016 to 2020. After revising each report, we have classified the data available, including the full amount of money awarded, chronologically marking every new country added to the fund and all the media outlets involved in each project. We argue that Google’s role is truly beneficial for the medium and long-term sustainability of European media because it offers both financial support and a successful path for media companies to truly embrace its digital technology potential. However, it also has some added weight in terms of transparency (a key element in sustainability practice and standards) and press independence. Besides the existing correlations between the awarded countries and the changes that have affected media legislation in Europe, our findings show an alarming scarcity of information regarding both the continuity and the conditions of each funded project. Our proposed agenda for future research consists of an in-depth investigation of each beneficiary, which will entail several interviews as well as different case studies of all the participants in Europe.

Une si tendre critique: L’Afrique des écrivains migrants d’origine congolaise en Belgique francophone

The article is dedicated to the portrayal of Africa in the writings of the French-speaking Belgian writers of Congolese origins. We analyse subjective representations of Africa, both critical and idealized ones, from which emerges a vision of the continent brimming with contradictions. On the one hand, it is an alluring, vast and fertile land with abundant flora and fauna, as well as clime and landscape dearly missed by migrant writers – the land embodying the concept of “paradise lost” or the notion of a nursing mother identified in the migrant writers’ texts with the idea of homeland. On the other hand, although abundant in natural resources, Africa appears to be the continent of extreme poverty, hunger, violence, racism, persecution and ethnic cleansing – the territory still exploited by global powers on which colonialism unveiled its new face defined by a seemingly neutral term – globalization. This dichotomous representation – a far cry from the simplified, impoverished visions of Africa offered by the European media – is conditioned by the specific existential situation of the migrant writers: remaining physically away from Africa, but still having a deep emotional, mental and cultural connection with their land, they are capable of perceiving it in a different light – thus, from a perspective which sharpens critical thinking and with tenderness resulting from the longing for their homeland. Hence, the circumstances of the migrant writers allow them to take an idiosyncratic, ambivalent and intellectually-affective stance – a specific critical tenderness, or: tender critique – through the prism of which the writers depict African realities and change the perception of these realities in the consciousness of the European readers.

Do European media ignore female politicians? A comparative analysis of MP visibility

Media attention is an invaluable electoral asset, and structurally less media attention given to female candidates and politicians could be detrimental to women’s representation. While research has found equal amounts of coverage devoted to male and female politicians in the US and Canada, a gender gap persists in European countries. This article examines whether differences in the political position and background of men and women account for this gender gap. A computer-assisted content analysis of national dailies in six European countries during one full legislative cycle is combined with extensive background information of 3039 MPs. The results confirm that even after controlling extensively for individual differences, female parliamentarians in Europe are less visible in the news than their male counterparts. Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at: https://doi.org/10.1080/01402382.2021.1988387 .

An Exploratory Survey of Mental Health Social Work in Europe.

This article reports on an exploratory study comparing mental health social work (MHSW) in Europe. There has been very limited previous research comparing approaches to MHSW in Europe and so the aim of the study was to develop a better understanding of the similarities and differences between and, where relevant, within countries (referred to as jurisdictions). An online survey was distributed mainly through existing European networks and social media to seek information on the role, nature, extent and context of MHSW in a range of European jurisdictions. Conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, there were 158 responses from 10 jurisdictions. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. From this analysis, four main themes were identified, relating to: role; law, policy and education; the distinctive contribution made by MHSW; and the key challenges for MHSW. The study demonstrates that MHSW, although it is described and provided in different ways and is confined by a range of factors, plays an important role in mental health services across jurisdictions. There are also interesting differences between contexts, especially in the balance of therapeutic, legal and specialist/generic approaches, some of which reflect the World Health Organisation’s vision and objectives for mental health. Lastly, the study illustrates a need and provides a valuable basis for further comparative and collaborative work to define MHSW and enhance the contributions it makes.

From Hey, you there! to Got you: re-materializing the encoding/decoding model in the computationally mediated city

ABSTRACT For European media studies, Stuart Hall’s encoding/decoding model epitomizes the transition from the mass communication research paradigm to the cultural one in the 1970s. Given its canonical status, Hall’s model offers an apt point of reference for reflecting on the challenges that cultural media studies itself faces today—after more than a decade into the turn to materiality in social theory. My suggestion is that the pervasively computed contemporary city provides a strategic context for media scholars in discussing the theoretical relevance of the encoding/decoding model, as well as semiotic models more generally, in terms of the ongoing paradigm shift.

Strange Bird in the Breed: The Translation of the Impact Investing Concept to the Corporate Logic

In the face of the aggravating state of many grand challenges, corporations are increasingly pursuing and trialling less-conventional ideas, practices and models from fundamentally different fields to affect positive environmental and social change. While institutional scholars have explored the translation of ideas, practices, and forms in-between contexts that adhere to the same or largely compatible logics, much less is known about the translation of concepts in between mutually incompatible logics. Drawing on a 21 months long ethnographic single case study of the translation of the concept of impact investing to a European media corporation, I show that the corporate motivations for such translation gradually change from ideological to pragmatic as incompatibility tensions surface, and that internal agents morph the translated concept from a strict coupling to a decoupling with the source concept in response to these changes. My findings contribute to the literatures on institutional translation, organizational adoption of practices and ideas, and business and the natural environment.

COVID-19 and China’s Changing Soft Power in Italy

This article investigates how China’s COVID-19 aid efforts affected its soft power in Italy through analyzing data on China’s COVID-19-related aid from Italy’s main national newspapers during the period March–April 2020. Previous research has focused on China’s mask diplomacy in relation to its impact in Europe, primarily discussing the geopolitical nature of Chinese aid and arguing that China manipulated the pandemic to change COVID-19 narrative. While these scholars provided significant insights into China’s aid in Europe, their research failed to provide country specific studies and lack inquiry into the domestic role played by China’s public diplomacy overseas. This article finds that, while China’s COVID-19-related aid have often been negatively portraited in European media, this has not been the case for Italy, when analyzing the news reports on the arrival of China’s aid in national newspapers during the period March–April 2020. Through assessing secondary data collected from newspapers, this article argues that China’s aid allowed the country to increase its visibility in Italy, especially during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even if there is no direct correlation between higher visibility and increased soft power, this paper finds that increasing visibility in national newspapers allowed Italians to see China more positively. The paper concludes that China’s understanding of soft power is still undergoing enormous changes and that one should not simply understand China’s aid as a way to increase its soft power globally, but its overseas aid are considered a powerful tool to boost its domestic conviction that it is global responsible leader helping the world.

Staying Tuned or Tuning Out? A Longitudinal Analysis of News-Avoiders on the Micro and Macro-Level

European media landscapes have changed into high-choice environments. Additionally, research suggests an increasing number of people are staying away from the news (news-avoiders). In two studies, we approach the topic on the macro and micro-level. In Study 1, we analyze on the macro-level how news-avoiders in 18 EU countries have developed since the late 1980s and what role country variables play in this context. We use multilevel spline models to distinguish between two phases of technological advancement. Findings suggest an increase in news-avoiders in the phase when the Internet was available. The market share of public-service broadcasters is no discerning factor for the number of news-avoiders in different countries. Using German panel-data, Study 2 takes a closer look at the news-avoiders in the Internet phase. We also show the increase of news-avoiders on the micro-level, but do not identify an increasing impact of political interest on news avoidance over time.