Replication Data for: Knowing More from Less: How the Information Environment Increases Knowledge of Party Positions

This data set is created from the European Election Study 2009 (PIREDEU) combining post-election survey data and media content analysis. The survey carried out immediately after the election in June 2009 provides the data on citizens’ placement of parties. Data on the media content analysis based on campaign news coverage leading up to the EP election is used to provide a direct measure of the amount of electorally relevant information about each political party. Over a three-week period, the content analysis was carried out on a sample of national news media coverage in all twenty-seven EU member states (comprised of broadsheets, tabloids, public and commercial broadcasts). The overall television sample consists of fifty-eight TV networks and the overall newspaper sample includes eighty-four different newspapers. Finally, data on parties’ positions on Europe is captured from the Euromanifesto database and the European Election Candidate Study. Descriptions of measures are included in the manuscript.