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The Impact of Media on Democratic Elections

Explore the significance of media in democratic elections - from shaping public opinion to influencing campaign strategies and election outcomes. Learn how reporters and publishers guide their coverage and understand the effects of media on elections.

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The Impact of Media on Democratic Elections

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Presentation Transcript

  1. The Media

  2. Why are the media important to democratic elections?

  3. Why are the media important to elections? • Accountability requires citizens to have information • Help translate citizen preferences into policy by helping determine issue agenda • Help candidates communicate with voters

  4. What are the principles that guide reporters and publishers in their coverage of elections?

  5. Media incentives • Publishers/editors: make a profit • Reporters: write a story by deadline • Reporters: maintain sources

  6. What effects do the media have on elections? • Agendasetting and priming • Framing issues • Tone of coverage (positive/negative/neutral)

  7. Does the media just hold up a mirror? Or does it shape election outcomes?

  8. What do the media cover? • Presidential and gubernatorial elections • NOT House/local/US Senate elections

  9. What do the media cover? • Not politics • Sexy politics • High profile campaigns • “The Horserace” • “Inside baseball”

  10. How does media coverage affect campaigns?

  11. How do the media affect campaigns? • Create name recognition • Create a dominant storyline about a candidate • Set expectations • Create bandwagon effects • “Prime” the electorate with issues • Evaluate candidate strategies • Report the outcome

  12. How do campaigns try to affect the media?

  13. Free vs. paid media • Free media: news organizations act as intermediaries and communicate the candidate’s message in their own frame • Paid media: candidates pay to communicate their message

  14. How do campaigns try to affect the media? • Paid media—create their own message, pay to advertise it • Free media • “Message of the day” • Soundbites • Physical and visual staging • Avoiding complexity

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