Denis McQuail’s research while affiliated with GGD Amsterdam and other places

This chapter revisits a comparative (nine-nation) study of the role of television in the first direct elections to the European Parliament of 1979. In a multi-level analysis – across broadcasting organizations’ policies, politicians’ and journalists’ attitudes to the elections, TV news coverage and audience reception and response – that study had focused on two subject areas: campaign involvement among actors and voters; and European vs. national/domestic dimensions of the campaigns. Having been members of the enquiry team, the authors ask whether any ideas can be derived from its approach for future research into communication in EP elections. After taking account of subsequent changes in the composition of and issues faced by the European Union and of member states’ political and media systems, they outline the main features of the 1979 study design and its principal findings. They conclude by discussing seven directions for future research which in their view emerge from the review.