Periodic Reporting for period 3 - MEDIATIZED EU (Mediatized Discourses on Europeanization and Their Representations in Public Perceptions)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2023-07-01 al 2024-12-31
Media framing of the EU plays a central role in constructing public perceptions of the European project and attitudes towards EU enlargement. MEDIATIZED EU studies how media discourses are created to foster or hamper the European project and how they resonate amongst the public, focusing on the elite-media-public triangle. The project uses a mixed methods approach to reveal the impact of mediatisation of political discourses on the representations and perceptions of Europeanisation.
Our research objectives:
1. To study the framing of the pragmatic and identity factors related to Europeanisation in the media and its representations in public opinion;
2. To explore the role of political and media elites in the media framing of the pragmatic and identity factors related to Europeanisation;
3. To trace the interconnections between the political and media elites’ discourses, EU framing, and public opinion.
Relevance and societal impact
Faced with a range of challenges, from the ongoing global migration crisis, the rise of right-wing populist discourses and disinformation media campaigns, the threat posed by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and the evident democratic backsliding in many Western contexts, the European project becomes more exposed to “self-disorganization” and “self-disorientation”. Our project offers timely data on how these developments shape elite representations, media perceptions and public opinion of Europeanisation. Our research provides policymakers with up-to-date insights on the media representations of the European project, as well as the interconnections between elite discourses, EU framing and public perceptions, enabling them to develop informed strategies for tackling threats to EU values, Eurosceptic attitudes and harmful anti-EU narratives.
We highlight the important role of independent media, quality EU affairs reporting and European political elite engagement with the public in how Europeanisation is framed and understood. We also show how polarization, autocratic media capture, and instrumentalisation of both pragmatic and identity-driven concerns for local political gain can pose a threat to further EU integration and the strengthening of EU institutions.
Our findings also inform how we might imagine the future of Europe in the world and how better-informed citizens and free media can safeguard democracy and fundamental rights across the EU. We find that divisive political rhetoric about the EU’s perceived threats to national sovereignty and identity is more convincing when it is uncritically platformed by the media in environments with a lack of knowledge about the fundamental principles of European collaboration. Likewise, accusations of deviating from the European path that are disingenuously weaponised for internal political gains against opponents are much easier to sell when there is uncertainty about EU shared values and principles upheld by members.
While the issues highlighted by MEDIATIZED EU are complex, addressing them through both policy and informed debate is central to further European enlargement and the strengthening of European institutions and European solidarity. They are also at the forefront of ongoing work of building a stronger, more democratic Europe on the global stage. From key insights for the development of the European Democracy Shield to nurturing independent journalism and civil society resilience as part of the European Democracy Action Plan and combatting disinformation and foreign interference threats in the EU, our research findings inform the EU's strategic priorities as a global protector of democracy and human rights and as a champion of the European way of life.
Our research objectives:
1. To study the framing of the pragmatic and identity factors related to Europeanisation in the media and its representations in public opinion;
2. To explore the role of political and media elites in the media framing of the pragmatic and identity factors related to Europeanisation;
3. To trace the interconnections between the political and media elites’ discourses, EU framing, and public opinion.
Relevance and societal impact
Faced with a range of challenges, from the ongoing global migration crisis, the rise of right-wing populist discourses and disinformation media campaigns, the threat posed by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and the evident democratic backsliding in many Western contexts, the European project becomes more exposed to “self-disorganization” and “self-disorientation”. Our project offers timely data on how these developments shape elite representations, media perceptions and public opinion of Europeanisation. Our research provides policymakers with up-to-date insights on the media representations of the European project, as well as the interconnections between elite discourses, EU framing and public perceptions, enabling them to develop informed strategies for tackling threats to EU values, Eurosceptic attitudes and harmful anti-EU narratives.
We highlight the important role of independent media, quality EU affairs reporting and European political elite engagement with the public in how Europeanisation is framed and understood. We also show how polarization, autocratic media capture, and instrumentalisation of both pragmatic and identity-driven concerns for local political gain can pose a threat to further EU integration and the strengthening of EU institutions.
Our findings also inform how we might imagine the future of Europe in the world and how better-informed citizens and free media can safeguard democracy and fundamental rights across the EU. We find that divisive political rhetoric about the EU’s perceived threats to national sovereignty and identity is more convincing when it is uncritically platformed by the media in environments with a lack of knowledge about the fundamental principles of European collaboration. Likewise, accusations of deviating from the European path that are disingenuously weaponised for internal political gains against opponents are much easier to sell when there is uncertainty about EU shared values and principles upheld by members.
While the issues highlighted by MEDIATIZED EU are complex, addressing them through both policy and informed debate is central to further European enlargement and the strengthening of European institutions and European solidarity. They are also at the forefront of ongoing work of building a stronger, more democratic Europe on the global stage. From key insights for the development of the European Democracy Shield to nurturing independent journalism and civil society resilience as part of the European Democracy Action Plan and combatting disinformation and foreign interference threats in the EU, our research findings inform the EU's strategic priorities as a global protector of democracy and human rights and as a champion of the European way of life.
From M1 to M48, the following work was performed:
- Governing documents and structures established & project Kick-off meeting held
- All planned deliverables and milestones for M1-M48 completed
- All research deliverables and tasks completed, including historical desk research, media analysis, elite interviews using Q methodology, population survey data collection and analysis.
- All dissemination and communication tasks completed.
Key results achieved:
- Active engagement with key audiences via website, news and social media updates, newsletters, seminars and podcasts.
- Research outputs and methodological innovations presented at international conferences, including ECREA, CES, ECPR, ISA.
- Country case studies and cross-country comparative analysis compiled into an edited volume.
- Policy scoping report and policy recommendations produced.
- Survey data integrated into ORDP.
- Fourteen peer-reviewed scholarly articles and special issue of Media & Communication journal, published.
- Insights contributed to policy workshops in Brussels focused on EU enlargement, disinformation and cybersecurity.
- Capstone project conference held in Brussels in September 2024, presenting key project findings, insights and policy recommendations.
- Governing documents and structures established & project Kick-off meeting held
- All planned deliverables and milestones for M1-M48 completed
- All research deliverables and tasks completed, including historical desk research, media analysis, elite interviews using Q methodology, population survey data collection and analysis.
- All dissemination and communication tasks completed.
Key results achieved:
- Active engagement with key audiences via website, news and social media updates, newsletters, seminars and podcasts.
- Research outputs and methodological innovations presented at international conferences, including ECREA, CES, ECPR, ISA.
- Country case studies and cross-country comparative analysis compiled into an edited volume.
- Policy scoping report and policy recommendations produced.
- Survey data integrated into ORDP.
- Fourteen peer-reviewed scholarly articles and special issue of Media & Communication journal, published.
- Insights contributed to policy workshops in Brussels focused on EU enlargement, disinformation and cybersecurity.
- Capstone project conference held in Brussels in September 2024, presenting key project findings, insights and policy recommendations.
MEDIATIZED EU's innovative methodological approach enables a deep understanding of how the EU framing impacts public perceptions of Europeanisation across country contexts. While public opinion in all target countries remains committed to European integration, pro-European sentiment coexists with low public awareness of the EU. This can lead to easier manipulation of public opinion through divisive discourses and misinformation promoted by both pro-EU and anti-EU actors in the media. While a pragmatic approach to Europeanisation dominates, identity-based arguments remain relevant not only for the purpose of attacking the EU and accusing it of threatening national identity, but also to reaffirm belonging to the EU as an ideational project promoting democracy, freedom and human rights.
We provide policymakers with up-to-date information on how the media and elites can legitimise or delegitimise political discourses and how the media can be instrumentalised to promote certain agendas to shape public opinion on the EU. This helps develop effective strategies to respond to Eurosceptic discourses, anti-EU misinformation, and informs interventions and literacy strategies to improve public understanding of the EU. Our research moves scholarly and policymaking expertise in this arena beyond the state of the art and is already contributing useful insights across national contexts, in light of the updated EU strategic priorities in areas of democracy promotion, media freedom and EU enlargement. Our insights are particularly timely as the EU is undergoing a radical rethinking of political and security architectures in the face of Russian aggression; as new countries – Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia – engage in accession negotiations and obtain EU candidate status; and as member states debate the extent of the EU's normative power and the threats of rule of law backsliding and disinformation within the EU.
The impact of MEDIATIZED EU research has been recognised externally: our project was featured in the Horizon Magazine: https://projects.research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/en/horizon-magazine/media-saturation-challenges-trust-european-democracy(si apre in una nuova finestra); highlighted in the 2022 European Commission factsheet “EU research & innovation protecting media integrity”: https://op.europa.eu/s/zW9a(si apre in una nuova finestra); and featured in REA's 2024 digest "Learn from the best: discover online resources from EU researchers": https://rea.ec.europa.eu/news/learn-best-discover-online-resources-eu-researchers-2024-08-14_en(si apre in una nuova finestra).
We provide policymakers with up-to-date information on how the media and elites can legitimise or delegitimise political discourses and how the media can be instrumentalised to promote certain agendas to shape public opinion on the EU. This helps develop effective strategies to respond to Eurosceptic discourses, anti-EU misinformation, and informs interventions and literacy strategies to improve public understanding of the EU. Our research moves scholarly and policymaking expertise in this arena beyond the state of the art and is already contributing useful insights across national contexts, in light of the updated EU strategic priorities in areas of democracy promotion, media freedom and EU enlargement. Our insights are particularly timely as the EU is undergoing a radical rethinking of political and security architectures in the face of Russian aggression; as new countries – Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia – engage in accession negotiations and obtain EU candidate status; and as member states debate the extent of the EU's normative power and the threats of rule of law backsliding and disinformation within the EU.
The impact of MEDIATIZED EU research has been recognised externally: our project was featured in the Horizon Magazine: https://projects.research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/en/horizon-magazine/media-saturation-challenges-trust-european-democracy(si apre in una nuova finestra); highlighted in the 2022 European Commission factsheet “EU research & innovation protecting media integrity”: https://op.europa.eu/s/zW9a(si apre in una nuova finestra); and featured in REA's 2024 digest "Learn from the best: discover online resources from EU researchers": https://rea.ec.europa.eu/news/learn-best-discover-online-resources-eu-researchers-2024-08-14_en(si apre in una nuova finestra).