Grasshoppers against Ants or Malfunctions of Capitalism? The Representation of the European Economic Crisis in the Main Italian Newspapers

Abstract How has the Eurozone crisis been covered in the Italian press? Who has been identified as bearing the main responsibility for the crisis? What is the image of the European Union (EU) that has emerged from this coverage? This article aims to answer such questions through a content analysis of four Italian newspapers (Il Sole 24 Ore, Corriere della Sera, la Repubblica and il Giornale) during 11 periods between 2010 and 2012. In our perspective, the topic we address is particularly important for two reasons: first, because the continuing Euro crisis is the most significant threat facing the EU's very existence since its formation, and second, because the media, through the coverage they provide, contribute to build both Europe and the support it needs to prosper.