European Union and media policy in the context of the fourth force media's impact on democracy and liberalism

Before the background of the critical preferences against the market-oriented media policy of the EU, the question must be asked; how effective was this policy on the content-area of the media? The present study will therefore examine the EU's media policy from this -viewpoint. Under the content-area of the media should be understood, the performance of its role, as a power of information and control. In the context of a democratic system, therefore, the "Fourth Power" is spoken. The focus of this study is on the implementation of the EU's media policy and its influence on the role of the media as the fourth power (force) in the democratic system of the Member States. The aim of the study is to gain insight into whether the EU media policy has led to a change in the role of the media in the Member States and how to assess these. Based on this approach, the following research question is formulated: "In which extent does the EU's media policy lead to a change in the role of the media as a fourth power in the democratic system of the member states?"