Challenges for the European Union from the Perspective of Journalism, Political Communication and Digital Platforms

This reprint brings together fourteen original studies that explore the challenges facing strategic communication, journalism, and citizenship in the EU amid an evolving communicative landscape. In a context marked by geopolitical tensions, populist discourse, disinformation, and digital fragmentation, the EU must balance institutional coherence, media independence, and civic engagement. The articles examine how narratives are constructed, disseminated, and contested in the European public sphere. They focus on three key actors: the EU as a strategic communicator, journalism as a democratic mediator, and citizens as both recipients and participants in the narrative process. Topics include institutional responses to the war in Ukraine, the portrayal of the EU in national media, communication in cross-border regions, and regulations such as the Digital Services Act. Other studies address emotional framing, platformisation of public service media, and perceptions of truthfulness among digital audiences. Special attention is paid to the rise of far-right actors and their use of platforms like TikTok and X to mobilise emotions and reinforce polarisation. Other contributions analyse fact-checking, citizen journalism, and media literacy in countering disinformation during crises. This volume offers a timely and comprehensive analysis of communication dynamics in Europe, with relevance for scholars, journalists, policymakers, and civic actors working to strengthen democratic resilience in the digital age.