Becoming Pan-European?:Transnational Media and the European Public Sphere

In: Schulz-Forberg , H & Brüggemann , M 2009 , ' Becoming Pan-European? Transnational Media and the European Public Sphere ' , International Communication Gazette , vol. 71 , no. 8 , pp. 693-712 .

Abstract

Research about the European public sphere has so far mainly focused on the analysis of national media, neglecting a dimension of transnational communication, namely transnational media. These media could serve as horizontal links between the still nationally segmented public spheres and they could be platforms of a transnational European discourse. Four ideal-types of transnational media can be distinguished: (1) national media with a transnational mission, (2) international media, (3) pan-regional media and (4) global media. Within this framework the article analyses transnational media in Europe, showing that a multitude of transnational media have developed in Europe. They have acquired a small but growing and influential audience. Whether transnational media fulfil the normative demands related to the concept of a transnational public sphere remains an open question as some of these media heavily depend on government subsidies and there is a clear lack of research on the European discourses represented in these media.