The Media and Voters

Paper Summary:

This paper deals with the influence of the media on voters and whether it can actually have a decisive impact on the outcome of elections. It includes various international examples and explains the notions of 'priming effect', 'agenda setting', and other ways of manipulation from the media. The increasing role of television and the internet is also discussed.

From the Paper:

"At the end of 1991, President George Bush's victorious campaign in Iraq gave him an unrivalled popularity among the American people, more than 90% of approval rates. A quick and casualty-poor war gave him an undisputable opportunity to get re-elected with a comfortable lead. In November 1992, less than one year after the first Gulf War, the incumbent president was unexpectedly beaten in the Presidential elections and had to leave the White House. What happened during this interval? Had the situation in the United States drastically changed since the end of the war in the Persian Gulf? Apparently, no significant event occurred during this period, and George Bush's defeat must be accounted to another factor."

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