ABSTRACT
For the purposes of this research, Europe is understood in the wider sense and European news (all coverage coded) thus has been deWned as including not only EU political and economic news but all political, economic, and cultural news dealing with Europe or people residing in Europe. For each country in the study, this does not include self-reference or national news unless connected to Europe or to other countries. The emergence of some form of European political identity can be reXected in media debates and discussions of political issues. Although this cannot be a measure of the extent to which Europeans incorporate such aspects of EU politics and decision-making processes in their daily lives, it demonstrates the role the media play in the informational and educational components of European citizenship. This political element was examined through media coverage of speciWc topics with reference to the research questions.
