An Elusive Trans-National Public Sphere

Journalism and news cultures in the EU setting

Bibliographic Data

ID7499593
AuthorsPaschal Preston (corresponding author)
Year2009
Volume10
Issue1
Pages114-129
Publication date2009-01-21
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournalism Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1461-670X • E-ISSN: 1469-9699
PublisherRoutledge (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/14616700802560591
OpenAlexW1490783094
LanguageEN
Citations received9
References cited13

This article takes as its starting point a critique of technologically determinist accounts of contemporary developments in media and journalism. It is argued that the links commonly assumed to exist between new ICTs and the spatial aspects of mediated communication are in fact more problematic and more ideologically charged than is usually assumed, and that this has particular consequences for analysing journalism and its contexts on the EU level. Instead, this article uses an alternative perspective on the technology–media relationship focusing on the socio-cultural shaping of technology (based on the theories of, among others, James Carey and Raymond Williams) to answer two related research questions: (1) Is there an emergent “European” journalistic culture and/or set of practices reflecting a specific European sense of identity/common purpose? and (2) Is there a pattern to the way in which “European” topics or issues are addressed? The research is based on a cross-national comparative project involving reviews of relevant media and journalism studies literature in 11 countries and interviews with 94 senior practising journalists in those countries. The conclusions of the paper relate the answers to the research questions to the contemporary EU integration project and the role of public communication, and considers some implications for current political and communication strategies

Aesthetics · Communication studies · Epistemology · Identity (music · Ideology · Journalism · Media studies · Political communication · Political science · Politics · Public relations · Public sphere · Social science · Sociology · Technological determinism · Globalization and Cultural Identity · Media Studies and Communication · Social Media and Politics · Law