A longitudinal analysis of traditional news media coverage of immigration in Western Europe: Issue attention cycles and attribute clusters

Abstract

Immigration is a contested issue in Europe, and its media coverage plays a central role in shaping public discourse, making it essential for comparative political communication research. This study examines the developments of media attention and content on immigration across six Western European countries from 2001 to 2020, using Downs’s issue attention cycle as a guiding framework. It hypothesizes that the 2015 migration surge triggered a temporary convergence in coverage, reflecting a transnational political agenda. Drawing on original longitudinal media data, this study uses automated coding methods to analyze a large dataset of media content, examining patterns before, during, and after the 2015 migration surge. Findings reveal that, prior to this influx, coverage levels and themes varied widely across countries, reflecting distinct national contexts. The sharp increase in migration prompted a sharp increase in attention and thematic convergence across countries, confirming the cyclical nature of both media salience and thematic focus. In the subsequent period, national distinctions in coverage re-emerged, though not to the fragmented levels observed previously. Additionally, the theme of International responsibility rose prominently during the height of the surge. It remained visible afterward, suggesting that such events may leave subtle traces in media discourse that outlast the immediate effects of heightened attention.