ABSTRACT
Consuming media coverage is one thing, finding it palatable is another. A Labour MEP noted ‘many constituents with seemingly insoluble problems feel the answer could be found in Europe’. As elected representatives MEPs have to relate to a range of individuals and groups in their parties, constituencies and the wider electorate. In their local press more than half of the members claimed to be dissatisfied both with coverage of themselves and Parliament. One member with long service sadly noted the lack of debate in the national media over ‘the amount of democratic powers that have been removed from the elected and transferred to the non-elected’. Facilities to provide for constituency coverage have been expanded to facilitate re-election. In the process, however, distorted institutional coverage harms the image which the legislature would like to project. Parliament thus made easily available the documentation of its public debates and decisions plus studies, press releases and details of prospective Parliamentary activities.
