Bringing Values Back In: An Analytical Model to Promote Democracy

The analytical model presented in this paper aims to clarify how the national legal and regulatory frameworks in EU Member States create or strengthen media system structures that ensure the exercise of democratically relevant media functions. It is based on the assumption that laws, norms, and rules can be understood as “applications of values,” which – in a democratic environment. The model is structured around two pillars: established normative foundations and value orientations shaped by evolving democratic developments within the broader policy context. The values to be assigned to the two pillars are discussed with regard to their potential for shaping information ecosystems. This is a peer-reviewed full paper accepted at the Annual Conference of the International Communication Association (ICA) 2025.