All subjects from each form of media were counted that had a LexisNexis relevancy score over 84, indicating that it is, in fact, a major reference. The LexisNexis indexing system was most effective in indexing newspapers, which had a total of 3,122 major subjects, within the articles. The indexing system was the least effective in indexing the blogs, resulting in only 514 major subject references, and was marginally better with television transcripts with a total of 270 major subjects. However, a large portion of these blogs and television transcripts were labeled “Unavailable” which indicated that there were no major subjects listed. The table below shows the subjects referenced the most across all three forms of media.
Major Subject | Frequency | Percent | Cumulative Percent |
Euro | 172 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
Economic Crisis | 124 | 4 | 9.5 |
Public Finance | 110 | 3.5 | 13 |
Euro Zone | 107 | 3.4 | 16.4 |
Bailouts | 104 | 3.3 | 19.8 |
Monetary Unions | 102 | 3.3 | 23 |
Public Debt | 99 | 3.2 | 26.2 |
Banking & Finance | 98 | 3.1 | 29.3 |
International Economic Organizations | 97 | 3.1 | 32.4 |
Bonds | 96 | 3.1 | 35.5 |
Economic News | 92 | 2.9 | 38.5 |
European Union Institutions | 74 | 2.4 | 40.8 |
Government Bonds | 56 | 1.8 | 42.6 |
Stock Indexes | 52 | 1.7 | 44.3 |
Central Banks | 51 | 1.6 | 45.9 |
Editorials & Opinions | 46 | 1.5 | 47.4 |
Currencies | 41 | 1.3 | 48.7 |
Budget | 39 | 1.2 | 50 |
The table shows that half of the media had to do with a total of 18 subjects. Of these 18 subjects, only two do not have to do directly with economics, European Union Institutions and Editorials & Opinions. The reference to European Union Institutions is most indicative of a form of media that contained substantial information about the EU. So over the month of May only a total of 74 newspaper articles, blog entries and television programs, covered something substantial about the EU, a total of 2.4 percent of all the media gathered.
This number is also most likely inflated because of the Greek government debt crisis that was occurring during this month, hence so many references to the Euro. The line graph below again shows the total number of media gathered over the month, but also shows the percentage of total times the Euro was referenced each day.
We can see from this graph that almost half of all references of the Euro occurred on May 12th, after a peak in total media coverage, on May 10th. The peak in Euro mentions most likely has to do with the EU announcing a bailout plan for the Eurozone should governments default on their sovereign debt. What this shows again is that there is not substantial coverage of EU events. The focus of the media was not on the bailout plan itself and the implications it has, but rather, speculation on the demise of the Eurozone.
While my previous entry, which only looked at the total media counts, cast some doubt that the EU was receiving little media attention relative to other individual subjects, which is still hard to determine, the subject analysis definitely shows that substantial coverage is extremely small. Only 2.4 percent of the media could have contained substantial information about the EU’s institutions and happenings. This number was most likely inflated because of the crisis in Greece during that month. This raises other interesting questions regarding the nature of reporting on the EU. Was total media coverage inflated over this month because of the crisis? Is total media coverage much smaller during “non-crisis” months? And the most difficult question of all: how much exposure does the EU receive relative to other similar subjects, such as other state governments? These are questions I wish to further explore and eventually hope to answer.
This number is also most likely inflated because of the Greek government debt crisis that was occurring during this month, hence so many references to the Euro. The line graph below again shows the total number of media gathered over the month, but also shows the percentage of total times the Euro was referenced each day.
We can see from this graph that almost half of all references of the Euro occurred on May 12th, after a peak in total media coverage, on May 10th. The peak in Euro mentions most likely has to do with the EU announcing a bailout plan for the Eurozone should governments default on their sovereign debt. What this shows again is that there is not substantial coverage of EU events. The focus of the media was not on the bailout plan itself and the implications it has, but rather, speculation on the demise of the Eurozone.
While my previous entry, which only looked at the total media counts, cast some doubt that the EU was receiving little media attention relative to other individual subjects, which is still hard to determine, the subject analysis definitely shows that substantial coverage is extremely small. Only 2.4 percent of the media could have contained substantial information about the EU’s institutions and happenings. This number was most likely inflated because of the crisis in Greece during that month. This raises other interesting questions regarding the nature of reporting on the EU. Was total media coverage inflated over this month because of the crisis? Is total media coverage much smaller during “non-crisis” months? And the most difficult question of all: how much exposure does the EU receive relative to other similar subjects, such as other state governments? These are questions I wish to further explore and eventually hope to answer.
The only consistent source of EU news for me, is the BBC World News service, which plays between 10 am to 11 am on WNYC. A lot of other coverage, for instance a recent Newsweek article comparing France's National Front to the Tea Party, basically frames Europe in American terms. The media provides so little information to explain European government systems that following European Union happenings is like trying to watch cricket without knowing the rules. I think most Americans lack the foundational knowledge that would help them understand and care about what goes on across the Atlantic.
ReplyDeleteExactly. How are most Americans supposed to understand EU current events without having basic knowledge on the three main institutions: the Commission, Council and Parliament? We are drilled in European history up to WWII in high school but curricula completely disregards post-WWII Europe. The formation of the European Coal and Steel Community, which ended the possibility of war between France and Germany does not receive the attention it deserves.
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