News Coverage and Support for European Integration, 1990-2006

TLDR

Citizens rely on mass media to shape political views, and prior studies show EU news coverage can influence support, yet research has mainly examined individual-level snapshots; this study highlights the broader role of news content as a contextual factor for public opinion dynamics. The study investigates whether the visibility and framing of EU news coverage affect aggregate EU support. Using aggregated content‑analysis indicators and public support measures across seven EU member states from 1990 to 2006 in a time‑series design, the study links changes in news content to subsequent shifts in public opinion. The findings show that benefit framing of EU news boosts public support while conflict framing reduces it.

Abstract

Citizens depend on information from the mass media when forming their opinion about political issues. Studies have shown that news media coverage of the EU can affect general and policy-specific support for European integration. Extant research has focused on individual-level analyses at specific points in time. The present study considers whether the visibility and the framing of EU news coverage conceptualized as contextual factors influence EU support at an aggregate level. We look at this question in seven EU member states for the period 1990–2006. By utilizing aggregated data of the content analytical indicators and aggregate public support measures in a time-series design, we relate variation in news content to subsequent public opinion dynamics. Our results suggest that both the framing of EU news in terms of benefit and conflict matters for public support. While benefit framing increases public support, conflict framing decreases support. We conclude with a discussion of the use of news content as a contextual variable in explaining the public opinion dynamics and potential benefits of this approach for future media effects research.