The Influence of Mass Media in Shaping Public Opinion on the European Union

Abstract

In this paper we investigate the impact of the print media on attitudes to European integration and European Monetary Union during the General Election campaign in Britain in 2001. We find that newspapers do have an impact on attitudes to Europe, but that these effects are relatively small. Identification with a political party is found to exert greater influence on public opinion, and when individuals receive reinforcing cueing information from both parties and the media these effects are stronger still.