The interaction between the media and the public opinion: social media becoming a source of information in Luxembourg LU EMN NCP David Petry 04 November 2014

1.General information on Luxembourg 2.Immigration to Luxembourg 3.Research project 4.Analysis of online newspapers 5.Explanation of topics 6.Quantitative analysis (See Annex 1) 7.Summary of comments 8.Analysis 9.Conclusions

1. General information on Luxembourg

Area : km 2 Population: Total Luxembourgish citizens: Total foreigners: EU citizens: (86,2%) Third-country nationals: (13,8%) Source: STATEC 01/01/2014

Total domestic workforce: Total residents: (55,9%) Luxembourgish residents: EU citizens residents: TCN residents: Total cross-border workers: (44,1%) Belgium: Germany: France: Source: STATEC 2 nd trimester 2014

2. Immigration to Luxembourg

2 nd half 19 th century Labour immigration from Germany and Italy Bilateral agreement with Italy; German immigration stopped after the Second World War Bilateral agreement with the Netherlands Bilateral agreement with Portugal and the Republic of Yugoslavia Major immigration waves to Luxembourg

Source: STATEC 01/01/2014

Source: Directorate of immigration, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs

3. Research project

First picture of comments of articles on immigration in the social media in Luxembourg

4. Analysis of online newspapers

Online newspapersNumber of visitors of 12 years of age and more % of the population Total audience % % % % % (local) % % Most consulted online newspapers of Luxembourg Source: Study TNS ILRES Plurimedia Luxembourg 2013/2014 Press release

5. Explanation of topics

4 chosen topics for the initial research: 1.Nationality law 2.Immigration law 3.Reception facilities 4.Right to vote 2 chosen topics: 1.Reception facilities 2.Right to vote

6. Quantitative analysis (See Annex 1)

TopicOnline newspaper Number of articles Highest number of comments per article Total number of commentsFacebookTwitterGoogle+ Reception facilitieslequotidien.lu38213/// lessentiel.lu/fr lessentiel.lu/de rtl.lu tageblatt.lu wort.lu/de6/0000 wort.lu/fr5/0000 Right to votelequotidien.lu2337/// lessentiel.lu/fr lessentiel.lu/de / rtl.lu tageblatt.lu wort.lu/de wort.lu/fr

7. Summary of comments

Reception facilities  “…We have enough problems here in Luxembourg. We should first redress the balance here!” (lessentiel.lu, )  “…The ministry has only to send them back and housing problems will be resolved no?!...” (lessentiel.lu, )  “ …Criminality has risen. One only has to read the newspaper and one will see who are the people who break into houses…” (rtl.lu, )  “…We shouldn’t let them in. Enough with this asylum tourism at OUR expense!…” (tageblatt.de, )

 “There is no war anymore in the Balkans and some are already part of the EU, so why accept refugees who aren’t ?” (lessentiel.lu, )  “…Why don’t we speak to them rather than talk about them? Why is it so difficult to share, to understand? Why all this fear? Why this hate? Why?” (rtl.lu, )

 “…It’s a fact that it will not be long before Luxembourgish nationals will be outnumbered…” (rtl.lu, )  “If foreigners don’t take our nationality, than they don’t want to vote either!” (wort.lu, )  “To Luxembourgers only!!! Living in the country and speaking the language… For me it’s a categorical NO to voting rights for all…” (lessentiel.lu, )  “…They pay taxes, social contributions and generate prosperity in our country with their workforce…” (tageblatt.lu, ) Right to vote

8. Analysis

Content of comments similar among newspapers Negative comments outreach positive comments Negative comments as an expression of xenophobia Positive comments as a reaction to negative comments Snowball effect creation of discourses Creation of discourses aggressiveness of comments Provision of additional information

9. Conclusions Snowball effect Comments ≠ public opinion Im/balance of comments vs. social media Perspectives First step of a broader research project In-depth analysis of discourses