TABLE OF CONTENTS

  

  

Background/
Introduction/
Standards

Key Quotes 

Objectives/
Preparing Students

Critical Inquiry

Media Literacy

Teaching Suggestion (NCSS)

Other
Lesson Plans

Candidates
Websites/Streams

NEW
Ad Watch Columns
(evaluating spots 
for accuracy)

Past Campaign Ads

Timely News articles  
 

Campaign/Election
news resources

Election sites for
Teachers and students

Web Resources

Recommended Texts

Recommended
Videos

 
 
 

  Hit Counter

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The Role of Media in Elections: 
Helping Students Understand Media's Influence
 by Frank Baker, media educator ©2004
(do you find this resource valuable?
  let me know:
 fbaker1346@aol.com


 Political ads IN THE NEWS: 

2008
 Obama stresses his faith in ads
MoveOn ad features pro-Obama Republican
 Are Political Ad Dollars Going Online?
Politcal ads changing 
 The Wealth Behind the Stealth: Advocacy TV Ads Flood the Electoral Landscape
 Misleading gas ads from Clinton, Obama
Campaign Ad War
Republicans use Obama as the bad guy in negative ads
IN A profitable primary over in TV land
 Political Spending Not Benefitting TV Stations Yet
 MoveOn to Air Anti-McCain Ads
 Obama campaign blasts negative ads
IN Presidential campaign prompts unprecedented political ads
Ad Showcases Women in Obama's Family
Pro-Clinton group airing ad in Indiana
DNC Releases First Anti-McCain Ad
Obama strategy: More ads, fewer debates
SD Obama leads off campaign ads with family health-care issue
NC GOP leadership divided over Obama ad
McCain asks NC GOP not to run ad
NC Presidential candidates use ads to win support
Democrats Look Ahead With Ind., N.C. Ads
Hillary, Obama hit each other in attack ads
Political TV Ads Uneven, Back-Loaded
 Three negative spots debut in one day
 New Media As the Message (National Journal)
 TV ads turn negative as primary nears
PA Clinton Airs 5 New Ads in Pa.
PA  Obama's unprecedented ad buy
 'Soft money' battle brewing
NC Clinton goes on TV in Tar Heel state
 McCain and Clinton Ads Spar Over Mortgage Crisis
Clinton TV Ad: McCain Not Ready to Handle 3 a.m. Economic Crisis
IL Media Curves: Viewers React To Clinton, Obama Ads
PA  Clinton Lagging in TV Ad Spending
NC Obama campaign starts TV ads today
      Obama plays on hoops fever in state TV ad buys
 McCain launches general election ad
PA Clinton ads up in Pa
PA Obama Begins Airing Campaign Ads In Pittsburgh
Dem-leaning group airs anti-McCain ad
 MoveOn.org ads back Obama
Movie stars help with Obama ad
OH Primary TV ads: 3,383 here
The Ohio Ad Wars
Girl in TV phone ad for Clinton is a big supporter of Obama
 Newsweek: Spying attack ads on the way
Ads' influence falls away in a 'message election'
 Clinton’s ‘Daisy’ Ad?
 Iraq back in political ads
RI  Flush with cash, Obama outbooks Clinton in TV Ads
WI  Study: Obama spent 5 times more than Clinton on primary ads
TX Texas political ad blitz kicks off
Clinton Friends to Mount Ohio Ad Campaign
Obama Still Has Big Advertising Edge
 Clinton hopes negative ads will save her campaign
OH Clinton leads in polls, but Obama spends more for TV ads
HI Obama campaign to start radio ad campaign
WI Obama winning ad wars in region
 Clinton Seeks to Regroup in Ad Wars
 Young voters influenced by negative ads
 Obama to start ads in Ohio, Texas
 Web-only campaign advertisements flood presidential race
VA  Local advertising minimal ahead of primary
 Obama, Clinton trade ad buys in critical states
WI Political ad blitz at hand
VA McCain launches TV ads in Virginia
DC/MD/VA Political TV Ads Running Early in the District
MI Even Michigan gets taste of big ad blitz
 Candidates spend super sums on television ads
Ad analysis: Super Tuesday
 Obama Runs Ad During Super Bowl
Screening the Chances: Candidates' spending on TV ads shows the ins and outs of the medium  (link to study press release)
CA TV ad blitz launched ahead of Super Tuesday
GA Obama goes unchallenged on airways
Campaign ads not so negative after all
Romney Outspends All Opponents Combined in Ad Buys
 Romney: Major Ad Buys in California, Other Super Tuesday States
MA Obama campaign will aim an ad at Super Bowl viewers in Boston
 Obama outlines aggressive Super Tuesday ad campaign
 Obama Campaign Ads Are Coming to a TV Near You
NJ Democratic front-runners bring the ad war to Jersey
 AK Ron Paul ad airing on Arkansas TV stations
 Obama’s New Ads in the Big States
 NY  Obama Campaign Launches TV Ads
 McCain Ads Attack Romney
 Primary Tally So Far: 160000 TV Spots and $141M in Spending
FL  Giuliani Blitzes Florida with Ad Buys
 Obama ads feature prominent politicians
 Political Ad Spending- Less than expected
Edwards' Feb. 5 Ad Buy
 Democrats Test Messages in Early Nationwide Ads
U.Va. team: Negative political ads can be good
OK  Clinton To Begin Running Ads
UT Obama to begin airing TV ads in advance of primary
CT  Clinton, Obama Run Ads On State TV
GA Obama Ads Start Running
MN Obama to begin running TV ads ; Obama's campaign to begin TV, radio
AL Barack Obama ads start airing  
 Clinton, Obama run ads in Feb. 5 states
Giuliani, McCain launch new web ads
TN Clinton begins running TV ads in TN
MO Clinton Begins Running Ads In Missouri
Political Candidates Favor Old Media over New
US NEWS  Great Political Ads Pack a Powerful Punch
 Clinton cries foul on Obama cable ads
MO Obama to launch TV ads
 Usually left behind, radio now wants slice of political ads
LISTEN 'Hitman' Shares Secrets of Negative Campaigning
 Romney Outspends Rest of GOP Candidates in S.C.
 Romney leads in S.C. TV ads
SC South Carolina Ad Wars
Radio fine-tunes for more political ads
 Romney Ads Back Up
CA Democratic candidates attune to the power of niche TV advertising
 NV TV ad blitz starts in Nevada
 Edwards's Run-of-the-Mill Ad
SC Edwards Releases New Ads in South Carolina
SC McCain seeks military vote in SC ad
Political candidates spend early, often on TV ads
 Marketing Presidential Candidates on the Web Goes Mainstream
 Romney Pulls Ads from SC, FL
 Iowa Upends Political-Ad Wisdom
 Over $45 Million Spent on Broadcast in Iowa: What Happens Next?
2007
 Candidates Buy Iowa TV Space at 'Unprecedented' Levels
 Analysis: Romney ads misrepresent
 Political videos not reaching Web viewers
 Obama Seeks Live TV Commercial on Caucus Eve
 Iowa Saturated by Political Ads  / The Words They Use
 Pro-Edwards 527 Hits TV Airwaves in Iowa
SPECIAL REPORT: Outlook for Campaign Ad Revenue 08
 Presidential campaign TV ads reveal history
 TV Stations in New Hampshire, Iowa Cash In on Early-Vote Status
 McCain's new NH ad touts endorsement
 Study Shows Many Lack Trust Of Media's Presidential Coverage
 Poll-obsessed media focus on strategy over substance
Voters urged to question political ads
 Political Ad Spend to Soar 43%, per Survey
 Presidential race turns a negative page
 Thompson airs campaign's first negative ad
 More than 60% Don't Trust Campaign Coverage (link to study)
 Campaign Ads: What Are They Good For?
 FEC: New Rules Change Political Ad Landscape
Candidates, Retailers Vie for TV Time
 Giuliani Ad Shows Off the Shiny Big Apple
McCain Calls for End to Independent Ads
 New Clinton ads
Media fact checking on the rise
SC Thompson To Air Television Ads In South Carolina
IOWA Ron Paul to Hit Iowa Airwaves Next Week
 News Outlets Doing More Fact-Checking Of Political Ads
 The Ad Network Campaign
 Romney Attacks Clinton In New Ad
Edwards, Dodd appeal to party in new TV ads
Edwards to run first TV ad in Iowa  
 News coverage continues horse race trend
 Election '08: TV Demand May Create Commercial Jams
 Why Advertisers Are Lining Up Against McCain-Feingold
NH: New Romney ad appeals to N.H. voters
 Presidential Candidates Shun Cable Advertising
 The Money Trail: Presidential Candidates Dole Out Their Ad Dollars
 Electioneering Ads at Issue for FEC
Romney's record-setting ad strategy appears to pay off
Campaigns prepare for big spending
 Coming soon: Personalized campaign ads
 TV, radio look for record ad money in election
Rules Would Allow More Pre - Election Ads
Clinton's first TV Ad (August 14, 2007)
 Local TV vs cable: Fight is on for campaign TV ad dollars
 Obama ad focuses on special interests
 Web is Becoming Dominant Media Force in National Political Campaigns
 Political Ads Stage a Comeback in Newspapers
 Edwards ad touts him as a tough guy
Web-Based Info is a Significant Component of Campaign News
Political Races Send TV Ad Revs Soaring
Political Ad Season Well Underway
 Romney Ads Outpace All Other Pres Candidates (Nielsen)
 Justices loosens limits on campaign ads
Senate Committee Considers Cutting Campaign Ad Prices
Mitt Romney's New Ad
More Money, No Problem (Reason Magazine)
 More ads on tap with possible FEC change
Gravel campaign on new ads
 Dodd Campaign Releases Two New Ads
Romney Steps Up Advertising Push
Mitt Romney: Early TV Ads Paying Off in Polls
Early Media Coverage Focuses on Horse Race
 Richardson Uses Funny Ads to be Taken Seriously as Candidate
 As presidential races change, media coverage must adapt
NH: Dodd's new TV ad focuses on Iraq distinctions
 Presidential hopefuls get some bang from their ads
OREGON: Edwards to air anti-war TV ads
 Dodd, Romney launch new TV ads
Branding the Candidates
 Web 2.0 meets Campaign '08
 TV Viewing, Through the Lens of Politics
 Richardson Airs "Job Interview" TV Ads
IOWA: So far, the effort is more intense in Iowa than other early nominating states.
The YouTube Factor
 Romney begins airing national ads, cost about $2M
Supreme Court's Support of McCain-Feingold Law Could Be Weakening
 Web spurs revolution in race for president
 Pres. political campaigns look to Reality TV
Campaigns consider Super Bowl ad placement
 Energized Romney plans to resume TV ads
The 2008 candidates are running 'e-lection' campaigns
 We the people--have alot to say
 Google canvasses for political ads
Will '08 Become The YouTube Election?
 The future president, on your 'Friends' list
 Political ads boost Gray Television Q4 profit
 Duncan Hunter Ads At Center Of Controversy
 2008 Race Could Be a $1 Billion Contest
 We the people..have alot to say
 YouTube Gives Politicians Video Boost
 Gore: TV ads feed demand for ever-increasing election funds
 Romney seeks to boost name recognition with first ad
Romney Mounting an Early Presidential Ad Campaign
More Americans getting political news online (read study)
 2008 race is on, and so is the hunt for dollars
Media in the Campaign Crosshairs
 Political ads push up Belo profits
 Political ads give Gannett a boost
 New McCain Team Made Attack Ads He Once Faulted
 Clinton's ad team comes into focus
 Scripps Cable Networks, Political Ads Boost Profit
 New Media Could Force Creative Races
 Attack ads go online and underground 
 Political attack ads growing on Internet 
 TV Stations Prepare for $1 Billion Presidential Ad Onslaught
 McCain Takes to Video and Search Ads, Dems to Blogs
 2008 Candidates Jump Online with Early Blog Ads
 SCOTUS to decide case on broadcast political ads
 Court steps into dispute over issue ads that air close to elections
Voters use Internet more, big role seen in 2008
 Presidential Candidates Launch Blog Campaigns
 Presidential Candidates Look Online

2004-2006

 Political Ads: They Don't Go Away
 Panel says issue ads OK during elections
 Stations aired more political ads than coverage
 Separate political campaign ads from the lies 
  Political Advertising Activity for Mid-Term Elections
 Year of the dirtiest sort of political ads
  Election Advertising Boost
 Political Net Ads- Low In '06
 Scientists Track Effects of Negative Ads
  Intense Elections Give TV Ads Big Boost
 Nasty ads close out a mud-caked campaign
 Nasty Campaign Ad Spending Beats Nice 10:1
 Millions spent on negative campaign ads
  Negative Ads Attack Voters -- With the Facts
 Attack ads sometimes backfire
  Candidates, parties target Web audience
 'Tis the Season: This Year's Political Ads
  Campaign Ads Dominate political arena 
 Election Ads Join the Broadband Revolution
 Cable Cleans Up On Campaign Ads
 Fear: popular theme in political ads
  AOL Debuts “The Stump“ for Blog Driven Election Coverage
  As Election Nears, Groups Plan Negative Ads
  Expensive TV ads cost candidates
 'Snappy' ads helping politicians build their brands
 Negative Ads Dominate Party Spending for US Midterm Election
  Political ads take center stage in debate between parties
 Outside Groups Spending Millions on Ads
  The Web Is Becoming The Home For Political News
   Spending on TV ads likely to set record (Rhode Island)
 Campaign 2006 Online/ The Web Video Factor (WSJ, 9/21/06)
 Attack Ads Are Good For You (Reason, Sept. 2006)
  Study: Interest in political news steady
 Campaign Ads Pour Into TV Stations
 In Campaign Ads for Democrats, Bush Is the Star
 Video Web Sites Become Instrumental In Politics
 Political Ad Spending Could Hit $1.6 Billion This Year
   Playing field leveling in media coverage of political candidates
 More Political Dollars in Broadcasters' Pockets?
  Buying Time 2006: TV Advertising in State Supreme Court Elections
 FEC Won't Ease Limits on Interest Groups
  Immigration Ads a Problem for Campaigns
 As TV Campaign Spending Soars, Cable Outlets Attract More Dollars
 DVRs help viewers skip campaign ads
 Political ad spending on record pace
 YouTube Election
 Politicians Seek Youth Via My Space  
 Candidates Turning To Podcasting To Get Message Out
 More Candidates in January Could Mean More Ad Spending in 2008
  Despite hot races, TV is mostly free of political ads
 Bloggers battle old-school media for political clout
 An About Face on 527 Groups
 Negative Ads Play Crucial Role in Campaigns
 Political: $440 Million and Counting
 Study: media use more male experts
 Blogs changing political discourse, shaping media coverage
 Candidates: Message goes online
 Online Political Ad Dollars Will Continue to 'Explode'
"An Eye On The White House And An Eye On You: Forget television ads. In 2008, candidates will watch your Web searches and cozy up to your friends. (What's Next/Campaigns)." 
 In politics, blogs and text messages are the new American way
 Should campaign-finance laws apply to blogs?
 Ruling allows challenges to limits on political ads
 Justices Weigh Limits Put on Campaign Ads
 Political Ads Often Aim to Confuse
 Animation Tries to Enliven Political Ads
 Political TV ads crowd California, NY markets
 Local TV election coverage challenged