De Ruiter compared news coverage from more than 1,600 editions of four Dutch and German (regional) newspapers, specifically focusing on the Rhine-Waal Euregio. What did she find? On the German side of the border, regional newspapers devote more attention to news about the Netherlands at the regional level than the other way around. “Germans tend to feel more connected to their own region than to the country as a whole. This is partly because Germany is such a large country,” De Ruiter explains. “Germans still partly see this part of the Netherlands as belonging to their own region, partly because of the area’s history and partly because of similarities such as regional dialects.” In addition, many Germans make use of facilities in Dutch cities such as Nijmegen and Arnhem, including shops and cultural amenities. This is reflected in the newspapers: “For German newspapers, news about the Netherlands is a viable business model.”
Dutch regional newspapers, on the other hand, devote less attention to Germany. Although many Dutch residents in border regions cross into Germany for shopping or fuel, they are generally less focused on the region just across the border. De Ruiter explains: “The Dutch are more nationally oriented. Dutch regional newsrooms therefore find it less interesting to cover news about Germany when it is not directly relevant to Dutch readers.”
More negative framing
Regional newspapers in border regions present a more diverse and complete picture of the neighbouring country than newspapers aimed at readers living farther from the border. However, that picture is not automatically more positive. “Regional news more often focuses on conflicts involving the Netherlands or Germany, whereas the general news sections of newspapers more often show the two countries working together. While Europe’s ambition is to allow people to travel and work freely across borders, residents of border regions are actually more frequently confronted with the shortcomings of the region and with conflicting national laws and regulations.”
De Ruiter regrets that initiatives aimed at strengthening the region are sometimes less visible in the media than the differences people experience. “We have become so accustomed to the advantages of the border region in terms of living, working and recreation that even a small setback quickly irritates us. The achievements we take for granted are no longer celebrated.”
The strength of the region
Media outlets are often looking for an angle that makes (European) news relevant to their readers. De Ruiter encourages journalists to look across national borders more often when doing so. “Take the example of famous Dutch cyclist Marianne Vos, who won a race last year on a bicycle with components jointly developed by a Dutch and a German company. These are wonderful examples that show that when regions collaborate, they can be just as innovative and important as major cities such as Amsterdam and Düsseldorf.”