The local angleThe local angle

News values and frames in the coverage of News values and frames in the coverage of European affairsEuropean affairs

Sigurd Allern, University of Oslo, NorwaySigurd Allern, University of Oslo, Norway

European ambitions, national and local European ambitions, national and local marketsmarkets

The EU is not Europe. However:The EU is not Europe. However:The EU has 25 member states, 450 million citizensThe EU has 25 member states, 450 million citizensNew members will joinNew members will joinAssociated countries (European Economic Area)Associated countries (European Economic Area)Set backs (the referendums in Holland and France)Set backs (the referendums in Holland and France)Very few pan-national news outletsVery few pan-national news outletsLocal, regional and national media dominatesLocal, regional and national media dominatesContradiction: lofty ideals about ‘ European Public Contradiction: lofty ideals about ‘ European Public Sphere’ and the national/local orientation of the media.Sphere’ and the national/local orientation of the media.

The European public sphere, more than an The European public sphere, more than an EU pipe dream?EU pipe dream?

At the bottom: the idea of universality, the public sphere At the bottom: the idea of universality, the public sphere must be accessible for all citizensmust be accessible for all citizens

The importance of the media: they must be within reach The importance of the media: they must be within reach for society’s members (Peter Dahlgren)for society’s members (Peter Dahlgren)

One or more spheres? One or more spheres?

Colin Sparks: singular, unifyingColin Sparks: singular, unifying

Craig Caloun: spheres of publicCraig Caloun: spheres of public

Two important obstaclesTwo important obstacles

1 The importance of language in political 1 The importance of language in political communication (20 official community languages communication (20 official community languages in the EU alone, and more will come)in the EU alone, and more will come)

2 The structure of the media market. Few pan-2 The structure of the media market. Few pan-European or pan-national media outletsEuropean or pan-national media outlets

National frames shape what is reported about National frames shape what is reported about European AffairsEuropean Affairs

EU on the news agendaEU on the news agenda

Agenda analysis (3 weeks spring 2005, 5 leading news Agenda analysis (3 weeks spring 2005, 5 leading news outlets in ten countries). Three ‘levels’ concerning the outlets in ten countries). Three ‘levels’ concerning the amount of news stories:amount of news stories:

1 France, Germany, Lithuania, Ireland1 France, Germany, Lithuania, Ireland2 Finland, Estonia, Italy, Norway, Belgium2 Finland, Estonia, Italy, Norway, Belgium3 UK3 UK

1 National newspapers1 National newspapers2 Regional newspapers2 Regional newspapers3 Popular press, public service and commercial television3 Popular press, public service and commercial television

Actors in the EU-related newsActors in the EU-related news

National: National: 46 per cent46 per cent

EU:EU: 24 per cent24 per cent

ForeignForeign 31 per cent31 per cent

Factors influencing the news agendaFactors influencing the news agenda

Market strategy Market strategy

News valuesNews values

ResourcesResources

Editorial mixEditorial mix

Reporting from Brussels and beyondReporting from Brussels and beyond

929 journalists accredited929 journalists accreditedAbout 25 per cent from countries outside the EUAbout 25 per cent from countries outside the EUOnly seven Norwegian correspondents from 9 news Only seven Norwegian correspondents from 9 news outletsoutletsInstitutional news often pre structuredInstitutional news often pre structuredBusiness related, or about laws, regulations, meeting, Business related, or about laws, regulations, meeting, summitssummitsEuropean correspondents versus Brussels European correspondents versus Brussels correspondentscorrespondentsReportage journalismReportage journalism

Types of relationships/networksTypes of relationships/networks

National groupsNational groups

Status groupsStatus groups

Media type groupsMedia type groups

Creating an European identity?Creating an European identity?

No, thank you, we have other obligations! (Irish No, thank you, we have other obligations! (Irish report)report)

““Only those with a stronger ‘partisan profile Only those with a stronger ‘partisan profile accept the idea..” (Italian report)accept the idea..” (Italian report)

““..A dream of EU bureaucrats, particularly ..A dream of EU bureaucrats, particularly French and German ones (Lithuanian editor)French and German ones (Lithuanian editor)

“ “We are no missionaries..” (Norwegian foreign We are no missionaries..” (Norwegian foreign news editor)news editor)

Journalistic approachesJournalistic approaches

’’The sacerdotal approach’: covering political The sacerdotal approach’: covering political institutions important ‘per se’.institutions important ‘per se’.

‘ ‘The pragmatic approach’: politics must The pragmatic approach’: politics must compete with any type of newscompete with any type of news

‘‘The conventionally approach’ (conflicts, crisis, The conventionally approach’ (conflicts, crisis, personal drama)personal drama)

‘‘The analytical approachThe analytical approach

‘ ‘ The critical approach’ The critical approach’

Proximity in the newsProximity in the news

Proximity, local angle and national framing: How does Proximity, local angle and national framing: How does this affect us, what are the consequences for our area this affect us, what are the consequences for our area and our daily lives?and our daily lives?

The dilemma: Transnational political processes and vital The dilemma: Transnational political processes and vital decisions in a European Union without a transnational or decisions in a European Union without a transnational or European public sphere is in conflict with basic, European public sphere is in conflict with basic, democratic values.democratic values.

Can visions about a European Public Sphere be more Can visions about a European Public Sphere be more than a pipe dream?than a pipe dream?