To set out future-proof pathways to strengthen democracy through improving accountability, transparency and effectiveness of media production and expanding active and inclusive citizenship, the project aims to clarify the extent to which certain media under which conditions perform which democratic functions for which audiences, thus making it apparent what is at stake for democratic media - and for democracy itself.
By applying an innovative multi-method design consisting of data science methods, large-scale quantitative analyses, in-depth qualitative approaches and participatory action research, the project will cover (1) perspectives of both representative and participatory notions of democracy as they exist in European societies, (2) the entire range of news media, regardless of distribution channel, mandate, ownership and source of financing, (3) the legal and (self-)regulatory framework under which media houses and journalism operate and people use media, (4) the media's potential to promote and support political participation (supply side), and (5) the media use patterns, communication needs and democratic attitudes of the audiences (demand side) in all EU Member States.
Based on the research results, an interactive multi-layer map of European political information environments will be created, whose layers reflect the legal and regulatory framework and the democratically relevant features of media supply and demand. In addition, the obtained “real” map is to be confronted with a map of how European citizens envision the future media landscapes. By comparing these maps, conclusions can be drawn from congruencies and discrepancies between them, good practice examples can be identified, and guidelines can be derived to support developments that promote democracy and counteract phenomena that may jeopardize democracy. These guidelines will be addressed to policymakers, regulators, self-regulation bodies, media houses, journalists, NGOs and citizens.
Cordis: Horizon Europe Project 101094984
Funding
EC Grant Agreement 101094984 — HORIZON-CL2-2022-DEMOCRACY-01
Partners
Univerzity Karlovy, Prague
Università di comunicazione e lingue, IULM, Milan
Uniwersytet Jagielloński, Kraków
Community Medien Institut für Weiterbildung, Forschung und Beratung (COMMIT), Vienna
COFAC - Cooperativa de Formação e Animação Cultural, C.R.L. (Universidade Lusófona), Lisboa
Tallinn University, Tallinn
Institut Mines-Télécom (IMT), Palaiseau
Mary Immaculate College, Limerick
Mirovni inštitut, Ljubljana
Publications and Lectures
Books and Monographs
Books and Monographs
Articles and Book Chapters
Research Papers
Research Papers
- (2024). Autoritarismus, historische Wahrnehmungen und demokratische Dispositionen in Österreich, der Tschechischen Republik, Frankreich, Deutschland, Ungarn, Italien, Polen und dem Vereinigten Königreich: Methodik und vergleichende Ergebnisse der Online-Umfragen 2019 und 2022. n/A. doi:/10.13140/RG.2.2.32482.13760.
Lectures
Lectures
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14/09/2023
, Berlin
Seethaler, Josef Beaufort, Maren
Politische Gestaltung von Medienstrukturen Ein Modell zur Analyse der rechtlichen und (selbst)regulatorischen Rahmenbedingungen in den Mitgliedsstaaten der Europäischen Union
Workshop des Netzwerks Medienstrukturen -
07/09/2023
, Milan
Seethaler, Josef Beaufort, Maren
Work package 3: Legal and (self-)regulatory framework
2nd MeDeMAP Plenary Meeting -
26/05/2023
, Toronto
Seethaler, J. Beaufort, M. Schulz-Tomancok, A.
Rethinking democratic media policy: A comparative analysis of legal and regulatory frameworks in EU Member States
73rd Annual Conference of the International Communication Association (ICA): Reclaiming Authenticity in Communication -
09/03/2023
, Vienna
Seethaler, Josef
Work package 3: Legal and (self)regulatory framework
Kick-off Meeting "Mapping Media for Future Democracies (MeDeMAP)" -
08/03/2023
, Vienna
Seethaler, Josef
Reshaping media – daring (more) democracy: MeDeMAP's research goals and the idea behind the project
Kick-off Meeting "Mapping Media for Future Democracies (MeDeMAP)"