The European media landscape has undergone continuous transformation due to technological advancements, increasing competition, and media ownership consolidation since the 1990s. Political upheavals have also influenced these changes, reshaping media structures across Europe. Historically, European media systems have been contrasted with the American model, with key differences in ownership, competition, and state involvement. In Western Europe, media operated under a “social responsibility” model, while in Eastern Europe, media was tightly controlled by the Communist Party. Hallin and Mancini’s “Three Models of Media and Politics” provided a framework for analyzing these systems, which remains relevant today. However, technological shifts and the rise of populism challenge the original model, as social media enables populists to bypass traditional media gatekeepers. This necessitates revising the framework to address the growing influence of digital platforms and political polarization, ensuring it remains a valuable tool for analyzing media dynamics in an evolving landscape.