Suchergebnisse

The European news channel, Euronews, can be regarded as a model case from the point of view of transnational, critical journalism research in two respects: first, it is to be demonstrated, on the basis of theoretical considerations relating to the course taken by communications policy, how a rationalized media operation is positioning itself in the European context of media industry development. Second, it can be viewed against the background of transnational journalism concepts. The rationalized mode of working in the multinational form found at Euronews is suitable for the integration of journalistic product and media industry development strategy at the European level, since Euronews is capable of providing contents for the new communication systems (highways).

The aim of this article is to present the background and the strategies of French language policy and its impact on the media. The high point to date of language-protectionist efforts, Law 94-668 of August 1994 (loi Toubon), must be seen within the context of a series of developments whose roots have their origins in a time predating the French Revolution. Today, language policy also interferes with the language used on radio and TV — as per decree, lists of specialist French words designed as a replacement for Anglicisms are drawn up. More far-reaching aims originally intended by the loi Toubon, which were targeted specifically at the media, had to be abandoned after a complaint about infringement of the Constitution. Language policy and media policy are inextricably linked in France. This is also apparent from the political strategies employed to elevate French interests to a European plane. Analysing this process offers a theoretically based insight into French media policy in general.

The aim of this article is to present the characteristics of French radio resulting from the processes in the development of radio policy. These processes are in part diametrically opposed to one another. On the one hand, the radio landscape is currently characterized by strong movements towards concentration and commercialization. They have been caused, interalia, by a relaxation of the concentration limits which were provided for in the 1994 radio law. On the other hand, protectionist radio policy attempts, by means of the introduction of quotas for chansons— established in the same law — to compensate for what France regards as the `harmful' consequences of these developments. In the meantime the media inspectorate Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel (CSA) has developed its own points of view which do not always tally with those of radio policy.

The content of TV news is often not retained or understood by the audience. This article discusses a concept for increasing retention and comprehension levels relating to TV news. Results of an experimental reception analysis with 215 participants show that retention and comprehension can be improved by employing a narrative device to present TV news. Adopting a narrative form for TV news also gives a clearer distance and perspective to the news content, which has advantages for social communication.

The existence of a European public sphere is often disputed –not only in communication and media science. A common thesis in research is that a European public sphere can be constituted via the Europeanization of reporting in the national media. On the basis of a qualitatively oriented meta-analysis, this article aims to answer the question whether such Europeanization is taking place in European countries. With reference to 17 studies analysing media content from several European countries, the empirical research carried out in German, English and French since the beginning of the 1990s is systematically evaluated. All of the studies examined compare European topics being reported in the media in different European countries. The meta-analysis shows that in the 15 member states of the European Union prior to the 2004 enlargement, developmental tendencies of differing degrees towards a Europeanization of the national public spheres are discernible. Overall, EU topics account for an extremely small proportion of the reporting in the particular national media. Players at EU level only feature in minor roles. It can be concluded that the public spheres of the EU states continue to exhibit a strong national orientation. Keeping in mind that there has been little empirical research in this field so far, the results of this analysis are a first step towards a systematization of the existing research –at a time when the debate about a European public sphere becomes even more important against the background of the ongoing expansion of the EU.