25

The reports in the German daily papers Welt, Süddeutsche Zeitung and Handelsblatt on the French referendum concerning the European Constitutional Treaty are analysed for the period from 25th May until 4th June 2005. It is the result of our research that the political elite is in the center of the media coverage. The public’s point of view is only represented by opinion polls. The reports in German daily papers are based on news agencies and on French media. Correspondents’ reports are exceptional. This narrow information basis contributes to a loss of reality with regard to the contents of the reports in the German daily papers on the French referendum. The point of view of the French political elite is taken over and the fears of the citizens with regard to the consequences of European integration are neglected.