THE ROLE OF MASS-MEDIA IN THE RISE OF NATIONALIST MOVEMENTS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

• Main Author: Georgiana STĂNESCU
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Editura Sitech 2018-12-01
• Series: Annals of the University of Craiova for Journalism, Communication and Management
• Subjects: media; elections; nationalism; extremism; public opinion
• Online Access: http://www.aucjc.ro/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/aucjcm-vol-4-2018-112-121.pdf

European Union is undergoing one of the most difficult periods of its foundation. Many member states are dominated by nationalist current, due to massive immigration, terrorist attacks and financial crisis that crushed the world for over ten years. Above all, there is Brexit - the first popular exit vote of a European Union member country. In this context, while France and Germany face elections and many other situations, a series of extremely right-wing national formations rise on the political stage, determined to exit from the European Union and once again, in this European political frame, the media proves its role as a public opinion trainer. An in-depth analysis on how this issue has been addressed by the media reflects the fact that in many countries press institutions have favored the consolidation and diversification of populist discourse. UK is the most concrete example where, in the context of a referendum on leaving the European Union, major newspapers and televisions focused more on issues such as immigration or terrorist attacks and less on the economic implications of leaving the EU. So, this paper analyzes the role played by the media as the crisis of nationalism rises in the European Union.