Netherlands wins Media Tenor's EU Country Image Award

EMBARGOED UNTIL 6PM, OCTOBER 23

Berlin. October 23, 2013 – The Netherlands was honoured tonight at Media Tenor's 14^th International Agenda Setting Conference for communicating a positive image in international media despite on-going crisis reporting which has shaped negative perceptions of the euro region.

The Media Tenor EU Award explores which of the 28 member nations is communicating the most diverse image to foreign publics, promoting reputational strengths in the realm of education, social and innovative development, as well as communicating economic policy which can mitigate the risks of single-issue reporting on the collective euro crisis. For the period of July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013, 88,000 reports on 13 international TV news programs and 11 business print media were analyzed on ten different criteria. Particular emphasis was placed on categories which develop positive reputation, which in turn, attracts foreign direct investment and tourism.

The ten examined categories were: Basic visibility with no excess negativity; tonality in opinion-leading business media; coverage on economy and business; coverage from quoted financial analysts; coverage on social development; coverage on education, science and environment; coverage on culture and religion; and coverage of leaders and government.

The Netherlands claimed a narrow victory over Sweden, which placed as the first runner-up, due to more balanced and diverse reporting across a range of categories, most notably in promoting positive environments on social policy and education.

Austria, which is recognized as a hidden champion amongst European nations for its business activity, placed as second runner-up for managing to get positive coverage from quoted financial analysts in opinion-leading news coverage.

For over 20 years Media Tenor's mission has been to contribute to objective, diverse and newsworthy news by bringing together the diverse parties who both impact and are affected by the news. Media Tenor's global research projects include analyses of election campaigns, investor relations, public diplomacy, corporate communications and other topics critical to news makers and news audiences. The annual Agenda Setting Conference brings together these diverse constituencies for data-driven workshops, panels, case studies and keynote speeches.