AN ELUSIVE TRANS-NATIONAL PUBLIC SPHERE?

Abstract

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.

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