Event-, politics-, and audience-driven news: A comparison of populism in European media coverage in 2016 and 2017

Research output: Contribution to book/Conference proceedings/Anthology/ReportChapter in book/Anthology/ReportContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Frank Esser - , University of Zurich (Author)
  • Agnieszka Stępińska - , Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (Author)
  • Ondřej Pekáček - , Charles University Prague (Author)
  • Antonella Seddone - , University of Turin (Author)
  • Stylianos Papathanassopoulos - , National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Author)
  • Dobrinka Peicheva - , South-West University Neofit Rilski (Author)
  • Ana Milojevic - , University of Belgrade (Author)
  • Sina Blassnig - , University of Zurich (Author)
  • Sven Engesser - , Institute of Media and Communication, Chair of Media and Communication/Science and Technology Communication, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)

Abstract

This chapter focuses on trends in reporting over time. It examines the presence of populist key messages in European newspapers coverage of immigration and commentaries on current political events, at two points in time, spring 2016 and spring 2017. The chapter explores the similarities and differences in the populist content of newspapers between the two periods and identifies a set of extra-media and intra-media explanatory factors contributing to the understanding of the emerging differences in a year-to-year comparison. The findings show that the presence of populism in news and commentaries in some countries is loosely related to actual migration dynamics (see Germany and Greece), whereas in other countries it seems to follow more intensive political debates, although actual immigration is less dramatic (Bulgaria, Poland). There are fewer indications than expected that the populist tendencies in news and commentaries are a reaction to the intensity with which the population views immigration as an important national issue or is dissatisfied with decisions by political elites. Finally, there are strong indications of the great importance of intra-media factors in explaining populism in news and commentary.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationCommunicating Populism
PublisherTaylor and Francis Group
Pages123-140
Number of pages18
ISBN (electronic)9780429687853
ISBN (print)9781138392724
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2019
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals