Im Spannungsfeld von Wollen, Sollen und Können

Be it Brexit, the Eurozone crisis or the degree of a banana’s curviness–we are affected by EU issues every day. The most important source of information about these issues are journalistic media. However, little is known about the anonymous news producers, that is, news agencies. In this study, agency correspondents take centre stage. Firstly, the book examines how journalists select and produce EU news. Secondly, it lays emphasis on how journalistic practices are influenced by social structures. For this purpose, the book applies Schimank’s model of actor-structure-dynamics. Drawing on results from 36 interviews with journalists from 27 national and international news agencies, the author concludes that the Brussels microcosm constitutes an extraordinary place to work in. In reaction to these idiosyncrasies, EU correspondents have developed similar professional practices. This study further reveals that as “agents of Europeanisation” news agency journalists contribute to the Europeanisation of public spheres.