ABSTRACT
Written by a leading team of internationally distinguished political communication scholars, this book offers the most comprehensive account on comparative political communication research in the context of European Parliamentary elections to date. Divided into four sections, experts begin by tracing the historical and political background of European Parliamentary elections, paying close attention to trends in turnout and the changing institutional role of the European Parliament (EP). Focusing mainly on the 2009 elections and using original data throughout, the next two sections are devoted to campaign communication strategies and the overall media coverage of EP elections in both established and newly-accessioned members of the European Union. The concluding section focuses on the macro- and micro-level effects of European parliamentary campaigns in a comparative perspective to illustrate how campaign strategies and media coverage were received by voters in EU member states. This insightful account on the interaction between political actors, the media, and voters allows readers to develop a global understanding of political and media system interdependencies and on comparative political communication research more generally. Essential reading to students and scholars in political science, media studies, European politics, and political communication, as well as policy makers within the European Union.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part I|42 pages
Perspectives on the European Parliamentary Elections
part II|84 pages
Party Campaign Communication Strategies
chapter 3|16 pages
Campaign Professionalization and Political Structures
chapter 4|14 pages
Similarities and Differences in Transformational Democracies
chapter 5|16 pages
Campaigning in but not for Europe
chapter 6|20 pages
Televised Advertising in the 2009 European Parliamentary Elections
part III|70 pages
Media Coverage of the European Parliamentary Elections
chapter 8|16 pages
Mediatizing Europe while Ignoring the European Election
chapter 9|16 pages
The 2009 European Parliamentary Election News Coverage in Poland
chapter 11|22 pages
Media Visibility and Framing of the European Parliamentary Elections 2009
part IV|60 pages
Effects of Campaigns on EU Citizens