Media Effects on Public Opinion about the Enlargement of the European Union

Studies of public support for matters of European integration tend either to neglect or inadequately model the role of the mass media. This study investigates how news media content affects public support for the enlargement of the EU. Other influences on support for integration, such as economic ev...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of common market studies 2006-06, Vol.44 (2), p.419-436
Main Authors: DE VREESE, CLAES H., BOOMGAARDEN, HAJO G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Content Analysis
European Union
Mass media
Membership
Mobilization
News Coverage
News Media
Political attitudes
Political Integration
Public Opinion
Public Support
Television
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Summary:Studies of public support for matters of European integration tend either to neglect or inadequately model the role of the mass media. This study investigates how news media content affects public support for the enlargement of the EU. Other influences on support for integration, such as economic evaluations, anti‐immigration sentiment, domestic political considerations and cognitive mobilization are accounted for. The study draws on two‐wave panel surveys and media content analyses of television news and national newspapers. The results suggest that media coverage of EU affairs matters to change in public opinion about EU enlargement. The effects of the news media, however, are conditional upon the visibility and consistency in tone of the news.
ISSN:0021-9886
1468-5965
DOI:10.1111/j.1468-5965.2006.00629.x