The media coverage of the European Union and the extreme right. A comparative study between Spain, France, and Italy

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31921/doxacom.n39a2041

Keywords:

Media, European Union, far-right, media coverage, public sphere

Abstract

The parliamentary representation of far-right political parties is growing in several European Union countries, particularly after the Great Recession. This has increased the media attention they receive. These parties share eurosceptic positions or question the idea of European integration, but does their rise alter public discussion on the European Union? Using a quantitative content analysis (N=974) conducted in 6 media outlets: El País and El Mundo (Spain), Le Monde and Le Figaro (France), and Corriere della Sera and La Repubblica (Italy),  the research describes and compares media coverage on issues related to the European Union before and after the Great Recession and how the rise of the far-right has affected the European public sphere. The results indicate that public discussion about the European Union is in decline and that national and top-down Europeanisation approaches are on the rise, coinciding with increased coverage of the far-right.

 

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Author Biographies

  • Cristina Fernández-Rovira, University of Vic – Central University of Catalonia, Spain

    Full-time lecturer and researcher at the University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia, in the Faculty of Business and Communication. She holds a degree in Journalism from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and a degree in Political Science and Administration from the UNED. Master in European Integration and a Master in Conflictology; she holds a PhD with international mention in Sociology and Anthropology from the Complutense University of Madrid. Her main research interests focus on two main fields. On the one hand, critical internet studies, the use of social media and their consequences, and the interrelation between politics and communication, and on the other hand, international affairs. Her scientific output has been published in high-impact journals, and several books have resulted from her research. She has conducted research and teaching stays at various international universities. Previously, Fernández-Rovira worked at other universities and in the media.

  • Ricardo Carniel-Bugs, University Autónoma of Barcelona, España

    Associate Professor in the Department of Journalism and Communication Sciences at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB). He holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Santa Cruz do Sul (Brazil) and a PhD in Communication and Journalism from the UAB, with a mention of European Doctor. Affiliated since 2004 and currently the co-director of the Laboratory of Prospective and Research in Communication, Culture, and Cooperation (LAPREC), a consolidated research group recognised by the Government of Catalonia (2021 SGR 00054). He has participated in various competitive projects of research, international cooperation, and teaching innovation. His main research areas include media policies, pluralism and diversity, journalistic content, disinformation, and communication for development and social change. As a journalist, he has professional experience, especially in audiovisual media, and is currently the coordinator of UABmèdia at the Faculty of Communication Sciences at UAB.

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Published

01-07-2024

Issue

Section

Miscellaneous of Research articles and essays

How to Cite

Fernández-Rovira, C., & Carniel-Bugs, R. (2024). The media coverage of the European Union and the extreme right. A comparative study between Spain, France, and Italy. Doxa Comunicación. Interdisciplinary Journal of Communication Studies and Social Sciences, 39, 83-102. https://doi.org/10.31921/doxacom.n39a2041
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