Migrations and Shrinking Rural Areas in Europe: The Influence of Media Narratives in the Public Discourse

ABSTRACT European shrinking rural areas have played an increasingly significant role over the last decade in hosting both voluntary and forced migration. Despite the structural nature of this phenomenon, media and political narratives frequently frame migration primarily through an emergency perspective. This article investigates how the relationship between migration and shrinking rural areas is represented in mainstream media across different European contexts. The analysis is based on qualitative data collected within the European Horizon 2020 project Welcoming Spaces , combining qualitative content analysis and frame analysis of media coverage in five countries (Italy, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and Poland). The findings show that reception initiatives and welcoming practices in shrinking rural areas remain largely marginal in national media debates, despite their growing relevance in local contexts. At the same time, local media and community actors occasionally promote alternative narratives that link migration to processes of territorial regeneration and social innovation. By highlighting the asymmetry between the high visibility of migration as a political issue and the limited visibility of local reception practices, the article contributes to a better understanding of how media narratives shape public perceptions of migration and rural transformation in Europe.