1 Internet Newspapers Television Advertising Public Sphere
2 Growing Commercialism Masses to Niches Cheap to Cheaper Diversity within Concentration Serious to Sensational
3 Direct Mail Campaign Events How do Candidates Reach People? Staff Work Free Media TELEVISION ADS $3B: Amount of money spent on TV ads in 2008 elections Makes Up as Much as 14% of Revenues For local TV News Stations in Election Years
4 Rising Cost of Political Campaigns is Largely Due to Rising Cost of Television Ads Obama raised $650 million during the 2008 presidential campaign
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6 Campaign Finance Reform A Little History… Limit Contributions Limit Expenditures
7 Shays-Meehan (2001) Provision: Television Broadcasters must offer political candidates reduced rates for their TV ads… 14 amendments offered on the floor of the House to weaken or kill this provision Provision voted down
8 Lobbying: a key power to do
9 The Power to Do To Pursue Ones Interests To serve as gate-keeper for public conversation