THE MEDIA AND CAMPAIGNS
Learning Objectives and Outcomes Evaluate how people develop political opinions and how this impacts their political behavior. Analyze the theories of why people vote and apply them to the 2008 and 2010 Election. Identify and describe the formal and informal institutions involved in the electoral process
2008 A Media Election Like No other
The Election Media Blitz More Coverage than any election in history Uncertainty and excitement Dominated the News for 40 of 44 weeks in 2008
Viewers ate it up We couldn’t get enough Most watched/followed election in History Democrats watched more All about the Horse Race
Horse Race coverage made it exciting for us What is Horse race coverage? Why do the media like it What does it cover (and what does it ignore)
Type of Coverage in Primary
Horse Race Dominates
Tone of Coverage in the Primary
Tone in the General Election
Amount of Coverage in the Primary The Democrats gathered More McCain was not very exciting
A Blip in GOP Coverage First Time in 3 months, the GOP gets more coverage Her Personal Life is great for Horse Race Coverage
Palin vs. Biden Palin’s Coverage Biden- the odd man out
Obama vs McCain Obama receives much more favorable coverage Why the Negative coverage of McCain
MEDIA BIAS
Media Bias Everyone Complains about it Structural Bias Political Bias
Where it Comes From Bias From the Right Bias From the Left
Bias in of 10 Journalists planned to vote for Obama
The Reality of it all Anti-Incumbent and Anti President Bad News is better than Good You can find it if you look Media remains a business
The Change in the Mainstream Media
A Change in Coverage The Big networks used to provide 80% of all political information We now pick our media
Table 8.4 Media Usage in 2008 Presidential Campaign
A Change in Audience Television Remains the Main Source Newspapers and Radio are Dying
The Generational Change Old People Read Newspapers Young people use the internet
The New Media
Table 8.1 Audience for Traditional Media and New Media
The Rise of the Internet 36% used it as the main source 59% used it at some point This the biggest change from 2008
Why the Internet Ideologically Structurally
User Generated Content Blogs,Podcasts, Social Network What they do Limitations
Web Video The New Platform- unmediated Role in 2008 Push vs. Pull Media
The Partisan Divide on the Internet The Democrats were more effective The Republicans were fighting the previous war.
Is this the end of the MSM? Probably not Still the best agenda setters
Timing of the vote
2008 A Media Election Like No other
The Election Media Blitz More Coverage than any election in history Uncertainty and excitement Dominated the News for 40 of 44 weeks in 2008
Viewers ate it up We couldn’t get enough Most watched/followed election in History Democrats watched more All about the Horse Race
Horse Race coverage made it exciting for us What is Horse race coverage? Why do the media like it What does it cover (and what does it ignore)
Type of Coverage in Primary
Horse Race Dominates
Tone of Coverage in the Primary
Tone in the General Election
Amount of Coverage in the Primary The Democrats gathered More McCain was not very exciting
A Blip in GOP Coverage First Time in 3 months, the GOP gets more coverage Her Personal Life is great for Horse Race Coverage
Palin vs. Biden Palin’s Coverage Biden- the odd man out
Obama vs McCain Obama receives much more favorable coverage Why the Negative coverage of McCain
MEDIA BIAS
Media Bias Everyone Complains about it Structural Bias Political Bias
Where it Comes From Bias From the Right Bias From the Left
Bias in of 10 Journalists planned to vote for Obama
The Reality of it all Anti-Incumbent and Anti President Bad News is better than Good You can find it if you look Media remains a business
The Change in the Mainstream Media
A Change in Coverage The Big networks used to provide 80% of all political information We now pick our media
Table 8.4 Media Usage in 2008 Presidential Campaign
A Change in Audience Television Remains the Main Source Newspapers and News Magazines are Dying
The Generational Change Old People Read Newspapers Young people use the internet
The New Media
Table 8.1 Audience for Traditional Media and New Media
The Rise of the Internet 36% used it as the main source 59% used it at some point This the biggest change from 2008
Why the Internet Ideologically Structurally
User Generated Content Blogs,Podcasts, Social Network What they do Limitations
Web Video The New Platform- unmediated Role in 2008 Push vs. Pull Media
The Partisan Divide on the Internet The Democrats were more effective The Republicans were fighting the previous war.
Is this the end of the MSM? Probably not Still the best agenda setters