The role of German media and the (European) public sphere

Framing biases of the press using the example of the Italian sovereign debt crisis 2018

Datos Bibliográficos

ID7477592
AutoresVictoria Sophie Teschendorf (0000-0003-4339-8170, Professorship for Economic Journalism, Julius-Maximilians-University Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany, autor de correspondencia)
Año2022
Volumen25
Número2
Páginas446-465
Fecha de publicación2022-12-08
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaJournalism (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1464-8849 • E-ISSN: 1741-3001
EditorialSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/14648849221145225
OpenAlexW4311862342
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas3
Referencias citadas25

During times of crisis, the press plays a crucial role in communicating and negotiating the crisis. Considering Germany’s strong economic role in the EU, the German (media) perspective on European economic policy issues has a major influence on Europe. In 2018, Italy’s debt crisis posed the risk of a new euro crisis and a domino effect on other countries. Contrasting views of how to resolve economic crises opposed each other, with the Maastricht criteria at the center. Despite high debt, the Italian government pursued a Keynesian policy by increasing the deficit to stimulate economic growth. The European Commission, however, insisted on neoliberal policies and compliance with the criteria. This study discusses the (non)emergence of a European public sphere through the economic policy framing of the Italian sovereign debt crisis. Using quantitative content analysis, the relative prevalence of frames rooted in competing economic policy paradigms (neoliberal/Keynesian) in press coverage is examined. The results show that the neoliberal paradigm and the call for austerity dominate coverage, indicating a possible European public sphere. However, the biased media framing in favor of the European Commission’s and German government’s interests partly contributes to strengthening the nationalistic perspective on this European issue. Overall, the press failed to present the issue in a solution-oriented and pluralistic manner

Austerity · Debt · Debt crisis · Economic policy · Economics · European debt crisis · European integration · European union · Financial crisis · Framing (construction · Keynesian economics · Macroeconomics · Political economy · Political science · Politics · European Union Policy and Governance · Media Studies and Communication · Populism, Right-Wing Movements · Law

Herramientas

Abrir DOIOpen Access