The Media Survey found that journalists see energy (43%), foreign affairs (42%), the environment (39%), climate change (34%) and institutional reform (31%) as their priority policy areas in EU reporting.
62% of the journalists surveyed believe that their main role is providing analysis and commentary, rather than "raw" information, which comes notably from institutional and online sources. 57% of journalists said that in order to improve reporting on EU affairs, further training on specific policy knowledge was necessary.
A separate, broader readership survey showed that EurActiv users are among the movers and shakers in EU circles, with two-thirds of readers being policymakers or opinion leaders, mostly working at political level, in senior or middle management. 11% of respondents are themselves from the media, up from 8% in 2005 (see 2005 Readership Survey).
A strong majority of 75% read EurActiv in their native language, including the partner portals that reach out to national policy audiences, especially in central and eastern Europe.
While new communication tools, such as blogs, online videos and content syndication are not yet seen as a primary source of information, most respondents recognise the multiple opportunities for communication offered by these new technologies.
