Steven Barnett speaks to New European and contributes to a collection of essays about the UK general election result

Prof. Steven Barnett’s wrote about the enduring influence of the UK national press for a collection of essays about the general election. The publication by Bournemouth University, “UK Election Analysis 2024: Media, Voters and the Campaign” featured contributions from the UK’s leading academics in media and politics. In his contribution, Barnett argues that any suggestion that the role of the press has diminished is both incorrect and dangerously complacent. He highlights the fact that, although Labour achieved a significant majority, its vote share was historically low and has been widely described as “broad but shallow”. In such a volatile political environment, partisan media can still exert considerable influence.

Barnett also contends that, rather than being weakened by the rise of social and online media, legacy media but can in fact be enhanced by these platforms. He notes that a significant portion of the electorate, including younger demographics, still rely on newspaper websites or apps for news. This suggests that mainstream media continues to play a crucial role in shaping public discourse and setting the agenda for broadcast journalism. Barnett underscores the significant role national newspapers play in influencing the broadcast news agenda, as evidenced during the election campaign when the notion of a Labour “supermajority” was propagated by the press.

In the New European article, Barnett comments on the potential decline of the right-wing press, as discussed by Marie Le Conte. He observes that while the influence of traditional right-wing media may appear to be waning, it remains a potent force. Barnett warns that the press’s focus on ideological narratives over factual reporting poses challenges for political leaders like Keir Starmer, who may face a media landscape more interested in promoting its own agenda than informing the public accurately. He draws parallels to the Brexit referendum, illustrating how media-driven propaganda can significantly impact political outcomes.

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