Presidential Elections and the Media

Paper Summary:

The paper posits that in America, as in Spain, presidential election campaigns are fought and won in the media. The paper discusses how in both countries, candidates must appeal to voters on an intimate, personal level and candidates' associations with other figures dramatically shape public perceptions of that candidate. The paper also illustrates how the media emphasizes image over substance, which has the effect of influencing the electorate not to think at all.

From the Paper:

"All across the globe, the media pay a major role in today's political campaigns. Television, newspapers, magazines, and increasingly, the Internet, help both to disseminate information about candidates, and to shape our understanding of the issues they represent. Many times, media outlets pick and choose from a variety of possible angles, casting one candidate as liberal or conservative, sympathetic or aloof, or knowledgeable or ignorant of what matters to the electorate. The sheer factor of media exposure can make or break a politician's or party's chances. The United States is currently in the midst of hard-fought presidential primary campaign. The Republican Party has already effectively picked its nominee, while Democrats continue to struggle over a choice between two candidates who seem ever more to be dividing their party into two powerfully opposed camps. Spain, too, recently witnessed a presidential election campaign in which two major parties faced off against each other, grappling for precious media praise."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Boehm, Christopher. Hierarchy in the Forest: The Evolution of Egalitarian Behavior. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1999.
• "From the Tour: Titian and the Late Renaissance in Venice." The Collection, National Gallery of Art. Washington, D.C.: National Gallery of Art, 2006. URL: http://www.nga.gov/collection/gallery/gg23/gg23-1226.0.html.
• "DNC: McCain Myth Buster: John McCain and John Hagee." News Wire, 3 March 2008.
• Eric. "Spanish Elections, Not My Country." Essays, Living La Vida Espanola. 9 March 2008.
• Giner, Juan Antonio. "Old-Fashioned Spanish Presidential Elections Coverage." What's Next: Innovations in Newspapers, 23 February 2008.

More papers on Presidential Elections and the Media:

• Term Paper # 57338 : "George W. Bush and the Media"
• Research Paper # 75533 : "Presidential Election and TV"
• Essay # 31693 : "The Media and the President"

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