Melissa Tabas20 June 2011SIS-419-EOIL

Introduction European Sovereign Debt Crisis Media in the UK Trends Found Conclusions

I choose to look at how the media in the UK is reporting the recent developments in the European Sovereign Debt Crisis

Due to the UK’s membership to the EU and its slight distaste for the Euro I expected the findings to show a support for the success of the Union while approaching the Euro with a more critical nature

Report published in the UK followed true to expectations

I found that the articles were generally critical of a lack of consensus and action on the part of European Central Bank Leaders

The writers seemed as if to shrug their shoulders as is saying well that’s the Continent

Overall there was little hopefulness for the situation and quite a bit of blame to be passed around

Media outlets in the UK have a longstanding history of thoughtful bias and party affiliation.

Newspapers openly support parties and candidates, often holding the same party position just because of their historical relationship.

This created inherent bias which are then reflected in paper readership.

Print and Broadcast media in the UK tend to approach reporting on continental Europe in the same manner

I found that the UK really found solstice in keeping itself separate from the Continent◦ Choosing to report on the news but often in a

superficial manner◦ Depending on Party affiliation, papers will often adopt

a Euro-skeptic or Eurocentric point of view◦ Euro skeptics advocate a distancing of the UK with the

EU and a quick to criticize, click here for an Example from the Guardian

◦ Eurocentric's are much more likely advocate for success with reform, or at least sympathize with the situation, click here for an example.

There is a definite tendency to portray the EU in a negative light, or at least as something separate from the EU.◦ Evident in the quick criticisms but little action to

aid A trend to portray the ECB and EU Official

as unable to act Party affiliations shape the way news is

reported