1. 1 Internet Newspapers Television Advertising Public Sphere

2. 2 Growing Commercialism Masses to Niches Cheap to Cheaper Diversity within Concentration Serious to Sensational

3. 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. 4 Rising Cost of Political Campaigns is Largely Due to Rising Cost of Television Ads Obama raised $650 million during the 2008 presidential campaign

5. 5

6. 6 Campaign Finance Reform A Little History… Limit Contributions Limit Expenditures

7. 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 327-101

8. 8 Lobbying: a key power to do

9. 9 The Power to Do To Pursue Ones Interests To serve as gate-keeper for public conversation