📜intro to political science review
12.3 How Do Media and Elections Interact?
Last Updated on June 18, 2024
Media plays a pivotal role in shaping elections. From influencing voter perceptions to impacting campaign dynamics, the media's coverage and editorial decisions can sway public opinion and electoral outcomes. Candidates rely on media exposure, while outlets benefit from campaign content.
Campaign advertising strategies are crucial in elections. Positive ads highlight qualifications, negative ads attack opponents, and issue-based ads focus on policies. Digital advertising allows for precise voter outreach, but raises privacy concerns. Media literacy and regulation are key to maintaining democratic integrity in elections.
Media and Elections
Media influence on elections
- Media coverage shapes voter knowledge and perceptions
- Amount and tone of coverage affects candidate recognition and favorability (positive vs negative stories)
- Media narratives frame issues and shape public discourse (economy, foreign policy)
- Media attention impacts campaign dynamics
- Increased media exposure boosts fundraising and poll numbers (early primary states)
- Media-driven momentum influences primary and caucus results (Iowa, New Hampshire)
- Editorial decisions and biases have electoral consequences
- Endorsements and opinion pieces sway undecided voters (newspaper editorials)
- Uneven or unfair coverage disadvantages certain candidates (less airtime, harsher scrutiny)
- Public opinion polling influences media coverage and campaign strategies
Candidate-media symbiosis
- Candidates rely on media for exposure and messaging
- Media appearances and interviews help candidates reach voters (talk shows, town halls)
- Campaigns seek to generate positive earned media coverage (photo ops, policy speeches)
- Media outlets benefit from campaign-related content
- Election coverage drives ratings, readership, and ad revenue (debates, election night)
- Candidate appearances and debates provide compelling programming (interviews, forums)
- Tensions arise between campaign and media priorities
- Candidates may feel misrepresented or unfairly scrutinized (out-of-context quotes, personal attacks)
- Media resists being used as a campaign mouthpiece (pushback on talking points, fact-checking)
- Social media platforms have become crucial for candidate messaging and voter engagement
Campaign advertising strategies
- Positive ads highlight candidate qualifications and policy positions
- Effectively introduce candidates and build favorable impressions (biographical spots)
- May be less memorable or impactful than negative ads (lower recall and persuasion)
- Negative ads attack opponents' character, record, or policies
- Powerful in shaping voter perceptions and driving down opponent favorability (attack ads)
- Risk backlash if seen as unfair, misleading, or overly personal (fact-checking, public opinion)
- Issue-based ads focus on specific policy proposals or stances
- Demonstrate candidate priorities and substantive ideas (healthcare, education)
- May have limited impact on less engaged or undecided voters (lower salience and interest)
- Targeted digital advertising allows for precise voter outreach
- Microtargeting based on data and algorithms efficiently reaches receptive audiences (Facebook ads)
- Raises privacy concerns and potential for voter manipulation (Cambridge Analytica scandal)
- Campaign finance regulations impact advertising strategies and spending
Media, Elections, and Democracy
- Media literacy is crucial for voters to critically evaluate campaign information and messaging
- Political polarization can be exacerbated by partisan media coverage and echo chambers
- Media regulation aims to ensure fair coverage and prevent undue influence in elections
Key Terms to Review (36)
Nieto: In the context of "Introduction to Political Science", Nieto does not directly relate to a concept within the media and elections interaction. It appears to be a proper noun, possibly referring to an individual's last name, rather than a term relevant to this specific topic.
Edwards: In the context of "Introduction to Political Science" under the chapter "The Media," Edwards refers to the concept or framework that analyzes the influence media has on shaping public perceptions and outcomes of elections. It emphasizes the power of media coverage, including news reports, opinion pieces, and social media content, in framing candidates and political issues which can significantly impact voter opinions and election results.
Horse-race coverage: Horse-race coverage in the media refers to the treatment of political campaigns, particularly elections, focusing primarily on who is ahead or behind in polls and predictions rather than on policy issues or candidate qualifications. This type of reporting emphasizes the competitive aspects of politics, mirroring the ups and downs of a horse race.
Cambridge Analytica: Cambridge Analytica was a British political consulting firm that combined data mining, data brokerage, and data analysis with strategic communication for the electoral process. It gained notoriety for its role in the political campaigns of 2016, particularly for unauthorized use of personal Facebook data to target voters.
Cruz: In the context of Introduction to Political Science, specifically under the chapter "The Media" and on the topic of "How Do Media and Elections Interact?", "Cruz" refers to a public figure (e.g., Senator Ted Cruz) whose media coverage can influence public opinion and election outcomes. Media portrayals of political figures like Cruz can significantly impact their public image, affecting voter perceptions and behaviors.
Wertheimer: In the context of Introduction to Political Science, particularly within the chapter on The Media and its interaction with elections, "Wertheimer" refers to Fred Wertheimer, a prominent advocate for campaign finance reform. His work focuses on reducing the influence of big money in politics, thereby aiming to ensure fairer electoral processes and more democratic media coverage.
CNN: CNN, or Cable News Network, is a major news broadcaster in the United States that provides extensive coverage of political events, elections, and global affairs through television and digital platforms. It plays a significant role in shaping public opinion and informing voters about political developments.
Iyengar: In the context of political science, particularly within the chapter on the media, Iyengar refers to Shanto Iyengar's research on media framing and its effects on public opinion and democratic processes. His work highlights how media presentation of news influences what people think about, not just what they think.
Proportional representation: Proportional representation is an electoral system in which parties gain seats in proportion to the number of votes cast for them. This system allows for a wider range of political parties to be represented in the legislature, reflecting the diversity of voter preferences more accurately than winner-takes-all systems.
Ventura: In the context of political science and media interactions, "Ventura" refers to the phenomenon where a candidate, often considered an outsider or from a non-traditional background, gains significant media attention and public support to secure an electoral victory. This term is inspired by Jesse Ventura's unexpected win as Minnesota governor in 1998, highlighting the power of media in influencing election outcomes.
Kerry: In the context of political science and media interactions, "Kerry" refers to John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign, which is often cited for its significant interactions with media, including how media coverage impacted public perception and election outcomes. The term highlights the role of media in shaping political narratives and the importance of strategic communication in elections.
Independence Party (UKIP): The UK Independence Party (UKIP) is a political party in the United Kingdom that primarily advocates for Britain's withdrawal from the European Union and stricter immigration controls. It gained significant media attention and public support leading up to and during the Brexit referendum in 2016.
Framing theory: Framing Theory suggests that how information is presented to the audience (the "frame") influences the choices people make about how to process that information. Frames highlight certain aspects of reality while obscuring others, effectively shaping public perception and opinion.
Campaign finance: Campaign finance encompasses all funds raised and spent in order to promote candidates, political parties, or policies in elections. It includes donations from individuals and groups, as well as any expenditure made by campaigns or political parties to cover operational costs.
Free media: Free media encompasses all forms of media that operate independently from government control, allowing for the unbiased dissemination of news and information. It plays a critical role in democratic societies by facilitating informed public discourse and holding those in power accountable.
Agenda-setting theory: Agenda-setting theory suggests that the media doesn't tell us what to think, but rather what to think about by selecting which issues are important enough to receive news coverage. The amount and type of coverage an issue gets can influence the public's perception of its importance.
Political polarization: Political polarization is the process whereby political attitudes and ideologies of citizens and political parties increasingly diverge, leading to a significant division within society. This phenomenon often results in a lack of compromise and heightened partisanship.
Paid media: Paid media in political science, especially within the context of elections, involves funding for advertising or promotional content by political parties or candidates to enhance visibility and influence public opinion. This type of media strategy is used to directly control the message, timing, and audience reach.
First-past-the-post: First-past-the-post is an electoral system where the candidate who receives more votes than any other candidates wins, without needing a majority of the votes. It is commonly used in single-member districts as part of legislative elections.
Voter turnout: Voter turnout measures the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election. It serves as an indicator of public interest and participation in the political process.
Proportional Representation: Proportional representation is an electoral system that aims to allocate political representation in proportion to the votes cast by the electorate. It seeks to ensure that the composition of a legislative body accurately reflects the preferences of the voting population.
Agenda-Setting: Agenda-setting is the process by which the media, through its selection and prominence of certain issues, influences the public's perception of what topics are important and worthy of attention. This concept connects to how humans make political choices, the importance of context in political decisions, the formation and influence of public opinion, and the role of the media in the political landscape.
First-Past-the-Post: First-past-the-post is an electoral system where the candidate or party that receives the most votes in a given constituency or district wins the election, regardless of whether they receive a majority of the total votes cast. This system is commonly used in single-member districts or constituencies.
Campaign Finance: Campaign finance refers to the regulations and practices surrounding the raising and spending of money for political campaigns and elections. It encompasses the various sources of funding, expenditure limits, disclosure requirements, and other rules that govern how candidates, political parties, and interest groups finance their electoral activities.
Public Opinion Polling: Public opinion polling is the systematic collection and analysis of data to gauge the attitudes, beliefs, and preferences of a population on various issues. It is a widely used tool in the field of political science to understand and measure the public's views on political, social, and economic matters.
Political Polarization: Political polarization refers to the phenomenon where political views and opinions become increasingly divided and extreme, often leading to a lack of consensus and cooperation among different political factions. This term is particularly relevant in the context of understanding voter participation and the interaction between media and elections.
Voter Turnout: Voter turnout refers to the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election. It is a crucial metric that reflects the level of political participation and engagement within a given electorate.
Media Bias: Media bias refers to the tendency of news outlets, journalists, and media organizations to present information in a way that favors or disfavors particular political views, ideologies, or agendas. This bias can manifest through the selection of stories, the framing of issues, the use of language, and the inclusion or exclusion of certain perspectives.
Earned Media: Earned media refers to publicity or media coverage that is gained through promotional efforts, rather than paid advertising. It is media exposure that a brand or organization earns through its own public relations, marketing, and content creation strategies, as opposed to purchasing advertising space.
Microtargeting: Microtargeting is a data-driven strategy used in political campaigns and marketing to identify and target specific individuals or small groups of voters or consumers with tailored messages and advertisements based on their unique characteristics, behaviors, and preferences.
Framing: Framing refers to the way media outlets, political actors, and other communicators present and package information to influence how the audience perceives and understands an issue or event. It involves the selection, emphasis, and organization of certain aspects of a story to promote a particular interpretation or perspective.
Media Regulation: Media regulation refers to the laws, policies, and guidelines that govern the content, distribution, and ownership of various media platforms, including traditional media like television, radio, and print, as well as digital media such as the internet and social media. This regulation aims to ensure the responsible and ethical use of media while balancing the principles of free speech and public interest.
CNN Effect: The CNN effect refers to the influence that real-time, 24-hour news coverage can have on foreign policy and decision-making. It suggests that the media, particularly cable news networks like CNN, can shape and drive the political agenda by intensifying public awareness and emotion around international events and crises.
Bandwagon Effect: The bandwagon effect is a psychological phenomenon where people tend to adopt certain behaviors, beliefs, or attitudes because others are doing the same. It is often observed in the context of elections and media influence, where individuals may be inclined to support a particular candidate or position simply because it appears to be gaining momentum or popularity.
Social Media Platforms: Social media platforms are digital tools and applications that enable users to create, share, and interact with content and each other in virtual communities and networks. These platforms have become integral to how people communicate, consume information, and engage with various aspects of modern life, including the political process.
Media Literacy: Media literacy is the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and create media in a variety of forms. It is the critical thinking skill that allows individuals to be informed and engaged citizens in a digital age, where media plays a crucial role in shaping political discourse and decision-making.