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

200
9
 
Media, politics and democracy
 
Obama group airing TV ad touting health overhaul
 Tracking the news one phrase at a time
 AdWatch: TV ad war begins over health overhaul
 Advertising wars escalate in health care fight
 PolitiFact to take a closer look at TV/radio pundits' claims
 RNC Revives Famous Daisy Ad
 Internet became dominant force in 2008 election
 Political ads: The Appeal of Television and Web Campaigning
 Late night talk played role in Election 2008
 The Power of Elections: A Tribute to Photojournalists
 
Obama Received Significantly More Coverage in Presidential Race,
 
Coverage Sentiment of Both Candidates Near Even
 Political Punch Lines: comedy shows as campaign news
 
False political advertising works, and that's no lie
 Smear Wars: Welcome to Negative Ad Season (TIME)
 
How To Differentiate Political Facts And Lies
 
Who's winning the message war, Obama or McCain? (Salon)
 Winning the Message War (Campaigns & Elections Magazine)
 
Do a candidate’s looks matter?
 Obama begins work on his image
  
Fear-based ads sneak into subconscious, researcher says
  Image Bite Politics (Newsweek)
  All the Presidents' Ads

  TV Still Preferred Source for Presidential Election News
  
Citizen 2.0 Voters Follow Issues and Candidates, Not Ads
  The Selling of the President (revised)
  New Media As The Message (National Journal)

   Students see political advertising in new light
   Students say Internet is prime source for presidential election news
   "Politics and the Image Builders" from The Hidden Persuaders


2008
Post Election:
Media spent more on covering Obama
Cable's New VOD Politics Channel
Banner Year for Political Spending
2008 Political Ads Worth $2.5 Billion to $2.7 Billion
Obama's Ad Dominance Reaffirmed
The best and brightest political ads (National Journal)
Internet the Second Most-Used Medium for Presidential Election
On the Net: Web still lacks TV's election drama
Obama Victory Is Record News on the Web
Obama Victory Speech Viewed More Than 7M Times on Web
What Obamedia?
Presidential ad picks and pans (Politico)
The Day After, Election-Flavored Ads
Election Night Media Habits Changed Forever
78.6 Mil Watched Prime-Time Election Coverage

Pre- Election:
CO Obama far out-spending McCain on Denver-area TV ads
MO
Election-year ads are bonanza for TV stations
GOP Hits Obama With Pastor Ads Days Ahead Of Election

Ad Spending Surges as Campaign Enters Final Days
Cheney stars in new Obama campaign ad
Obama rips Sarah Palin in new campaign ad
Political Season: Last Of This Year's Big TV Ratings & Ad Spend
Study: Obama Gains on McCain in Negative-Ad Race
Obama ads in GOP turf
Nader Makes First Ad Buy
WI
Obama Outspent McCain 3-to-1 in One Week of October
Infomercial for Obama Is Big Success in Ratings
ABC out of Obama half-hour campaign ad buy
Obama infomercial: Smart politics or risky overkill?
With Time Running Short, Campaigns Engage in a Noisy Air War
Obama ad: Don't get distracted by attacks
OH: Presidential candidates battle for TV advertising slots
Study: Media more negative about McCain than Obama
Mailed Ads Have Become Mostly Negative, Experts Say
New Obama ad looks ahead four years
Winning The Media Campaign: How the Press Reported the 2008 General Election
Obama's ads have the bucks; McCain's have the bark
Political dollars shift to cable
Ready, Aim, Backfire: Nasty Political Ads Fall Flat
(Wall St Journal)
Political ads add to the muddle, clutter on TV
Obama TV Advertising: More, Longer Spots
Spanish ads pit McCain, Obama against each other
Obama’s Ad Effort Swamps McCain and Nears Record
RNC pulls ads from Wisconsin, Maine to focus on red states
Obama drowning out McCain in TV ads
G.O.P. Opens Wallet for Ads
McCain Attack Ads Called Inevitable -- And Ineffective
54% Pay Attention to Political Ads, 64% Rate Most Ads Negative
Presidential ads provide windfall to local stations
Obama Airs 25,000 Commercials in Past Four Days
Why Negative Ads are Good for Voters (Newsweek)
Obama Says 'Yes We Can!' to In-Game Advertising
How To Win The White House Using Online Advertising
Negative ads can cause a physical reaction
Obama Camp Drops $2 Million on 30-Minute Prime-Time Slots
Study: 2008 Race More Negative Than 2004
Obama, Purse Swelling, Plans Half-Hour TV Ad
WI
Campaign ads focus more heavily on Wisconsin
Study: Nearly all recent McCain ads were negative
Obama Outspending McCain Nearly 3 to 1 on TV
Independent groups are new power in political ads
UAW launches ad campaign against McCain
Pollster : McCain’s Attack Ads Aren’t Working on Voters
McCain ad calls Obama 'dishonorable'
Independent groups aim at McCain, Obama in new ads
MI
Obama outspends McCain on ads in Michigan
MI
McCain pullout will slow spending on TV political ads
False political advertising works, and that's no lie

McCain, Obama camps trade barbs on negative ads
Bonfire of the verities Both presidential candidates skirt truth in campaign ads
Obama counters upcoming negative ads
VA
Obama, McCain Saturating TV With Ads
Negative Campaign Ads Have Surprising Impact on Voters’ Feelings About the Candidates
MI McCain pulls advertising in Michigan  
Obama, McCain Spending Big On Local Attack Ads
NRA Delivers New Ad in Spanish
Wildlife group expands reach of anti-Palin wolf ad
Are Political Commercials Muddying TV News Ad Space?
McCain Winning Search-Ad Race
Smear Wars: Welcome to Negative Ad Season (Time Magazine)
McCain, Obama ads on network evening newscasts
McCain, Obama wasting no time with attack ads
Post-debate attack ads launched
How Voice Actors Are Chosen for Political Ads
FL
Campaigns spend big bucks for wave of TV ads
IN
McCain TV ads to air  next week
5 States Where McCain Is Spending More on Ads Than Obama

Dubious Claims in Obama’s Ads Against McCain, Despite Vow of Truth
Truth in Advertising? Not for Political Ads (Time Magazine)
Facts, Fables & Fibs
(Time Magazine)
Harsh attack ads are narrowly focused in presidential campaign
McCain ads low on truth; Obama's not much better
NRA Targets Obama-Biden in Ongoing Ad Buy
Presidential candidates air attack ads
Analysis: Political Ads Must Be Fact-Checked
Obama, McCain Spend Record $94M In August
McCain's negative ads could backfire
CO
Colorado tops in presidential TV ad buys
VA Spending for TV ads shows Va.'s importance
Campaigns target each others economic advisors

Ad Buys Point to Familiar Presidential Battleground
What's really airing
527 Releases ‘Swift Boat’ Style Ad of McCain
Truth telling in the media and the fall elections (MPR)
Obama Ad Mocks McCain as Out of Date
Obama mocks McCain as computer illiterate in ad
McCain Ratchets Up National TV Ads
Obama, McCain issue competing TV ads on education
McCain Ads Are Hybrid Vehicles
McCain's New Ad: ‘Original Mavericks’
McCain vs. Obama: The online race
OH:
Political ads permeate fall TV
Sarah Palin VP Announcement Inspires Ads
5 Misleading Presidential Campaign Ads
Obama Expands Lead on McCain in Online Advertising Battle in June
Anti-McCain ad a 'nightmare'
GOP scales back TV ad plans in some states, not NH
McCain ad: Palin more qualified than Obama
Camps Get Back To Business With Dueling Ads
Obama Unleashes Ad Mocking McCain’s Ties to Bush
Report: Rove raising money for attack ads
McCain's ads on taxes are just plain false (Oped)
Study: Based Solely on Olympics Ads, McCain Prevails
Companies offer targeted political ads
Obama's new ads: McCain-Bush, not Palin
McCain Scores Point in PR Wars
Obama ad: Despite Palin, McCain isn't change agent
McCain to spend advertising money in Minnesota
Cable Consortium Pushes Political On-Demand Ads
Political Ads: Web Vs. TV
Political Ads: TV's Last Bonanza
Obama campaign preparing series of attack ads
McCain Ad Calls Obama Dangerously Unprepared
Candidates Spending More on Cable Ads
Conservative Group’s Ads Link Obama to 1960s Radical
Obama counterattacks on 'Swift Boat'-style ads
How Are Political Ads Made Quickly?
'3 AM' McCain ad uses Clinton clips
Obama asks Justice probe of 'Issues' ads
McCain ad: Clinton's 'truth hurt'
McCain ad says Obama snubbed Clinton in VP pick
Obama silences ads in some states during convention
Every Four Years: Presidential Campaign Ads (Newseum DC Exhibit)
Obama Stops Advertising in Red Battleground States
When Images Speak Louder Than Words
Group to spend $2.8 million on anti-Obama ad
Candidates' wives lend voices to anti-poverty ad

Presidential campaign ads: Watch, rate
Obama ad focuses on tax cuts
McCain, Obama to silence critical ads on Sept. 11
Obama’s Ads in Key States Go on Attack
Television Starts to Court the Young Voter
All's Fair in Love and Political Ads  
They're back: Harry and Louise on health insurance
Subtle Internet Ads Send Targeted Political Messages (NPR)
Obama targets Olympic audience with economic TV ad
Obama, McCain Air Olympics Ads (WSJ)
Jackson Browne sues McCain over ad
Are You Ready For More McCain Attack Ads? (Natl Journal)
NC Obama campaign spends over $2M on NC TV ads
Entravision, Univision Political Ads May Soar in US Election
IN New Obama ad features Hoosiers criticizing the economy
Who's winning the message war, Obama or McCain?
Candidates' Olympics ads take different approaches
FL Obama Runs 9,785 TV Ads In Fla., Zero For McCain
Study: Candidate Web Sites Are as Effective as TV and Cable Ads
Campaigns unveil dueling celebrity ads
Barack Obama responds with his own McCain 'celebrity' ad
Political Spots Now a Bargain
Getting in their digital digs
On positive side, negative ads work
Obama Ad Attacks McCain on Yucca Mountain
GOP  Launches Three New Ads
New McCain Ad Hits Obama on Celebrity Again
Is there sinister subtext in McCain ads? (Politico)
Poll: Obama's ads positive, McCain's not
Obama' plan to put ads on gas pumps hits roadblock
Winning the Message War: 2 Parts (Campaigns & Elections)
McCain ad asks if Obama is ready to help families
McCain’s $6M Olympic ad buy tops Obama’s
New McCain ad pushes independence, distance from Bush
Study: McCain Finally Getting Media Coverage Equal To Obama
McCain ads may hurt Obama, but they've already hurt McCain
Obama assails McCain as tool of Big Oil in ad
Obama ad calls for return of windfall profits tax
Campaign ad blitz already at $50 million
Obama extends reach with TV ads
No. 1 spots for campaign ads? Phila. and Pa. (Philadelphia Inquirer
)
Election Year Rains Millions on Media Outlets
Presidential Candidates Battle It Out With Ads
Presidential Campaign Ads Take On Aggressive Tone
MoveOn responds to McCain ads
Battleground states see more political ads
Our view on campaign fairness: McCain attack ad cheapens campaign. More to come?/ Opposing view: Ad confronts the inevitable
Campaign ads attack GOP candidates for oil industry ties
Obama, McCain Now Battling On MTV, Comedy Central
Comedy Central Accepts Political Ad
Are the media biased against Obama?
Political Ads May Not Tell Whole Story (NPR)
New McCain Ads Attack Obama's Canceled Troop Visit
McCain has Berlin moment too — in little Berlins
Election-Year Ads Seek Spotlight for Education Issues
Obama to run ads during Olympics
McCain, Obama launch new radio ads
RNC airs anti-Obama ads
McCain, Obama spend $7.2M on Michigan TV ads

McCain TV ad accuses Obama of shifting Iraq views
Third party groups unleash barrage of new ads
Two ads, two views of Iraq war
McCain returns to NM, ads focus on Hispanics
RNC and DNC exchange web attack ads on Iraq
Black Media Hopeful on Election Ad Spending
Ad campaign presses candidates on education
Hispanics in military focus of ad
Obama Ad Takes On McCain’s Energy Plans
Cashing In On Obama; McCain/ Where the presidential candidates spend their money (NYT)
New RNC Ads Go After Obama on Energy
Through Ads, Candidates Vie For Hispanic Voters (NPR)
RNC Launching $3 Million Ad Buy in Four States
U.S. presidential race: TV ads galore (Canada)
Obama, McCain Launch Competing Campaign Ads
NRA to target Obama in ad blitz
McCain campaign pulls ads from some anti-Obama Web sites
MTV is keen on airing new video: political ads
Obama airs second campaign ad in Indiana
Unions’ election drive means TV, money and troops
McCain Ad Touts Energy Policy
New Ad Hits Obama on Abortion
Breaking Tradition, MTV to Accept Political Advertising
GOP senator makes ad touting work with Obama
Obama Camp Vows To Fight Race-Based Ads
Negative TV ads are nothing new in political campaigns
NYT: Obama plans push on ads, turnout
Obama Mulling NBC Olympics Ads
States targeted for Barack Obama ad include some shockers
Obama Launches Nationwide Ad Campaign
Young Child Used in Anti-McCain Ad
AFSCME, MoveOn ad targets McCain on Iraq war
McCain, liberal groups roll out new TV ads
Tony Schwartz Obit: helped create famous Daisy Ad
Appeals court tells FEC to enforce law on ads
Primaries Boost Cable News Ad Revenue
The internet and the 2008 election (Pew Study)
Election Ad Uptick
John Cusack takes on John McCain in MoveOn.org ad
Media Charged With Sexism in Clinton Coverage
McCain doesn't talk about Vietnam, but ads do
McCain releases Florida ad in Spanish
McCain airing 'hates war' TV ads
McCain Launches Spanish Radio Ads in NM and Arizona
Obama putting more ad shops on his team
Democrats Enjoy More Positive Media Coverage than McCain
Survey: Most say campaign ads only bore and annoy
Ad edge in 11-day span boosted Obama, study says
NEARLY $200 MILLION SPENT ON PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN TV ADS TO DATE(pdf)
Democrats, especially Obama, won campaign ad war
McCain Quietly Spending on TV in Swing States
For Now, McCain Has The TV-Ad Scene to Himself
How Barack Obama Is Using the Web to Further Engage Voters
MoveOn.org Launches Anti-McCain Ad Campaign
MI
McCain to Begin TV Ads in Michigan
Going negative in political advertising
527 groups get the cold shoulder
New Clinton Ads for Oregon, Kentucky
Obama warns Republicans about critical ads
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
 
FEC must rewrite campaign finance rules 
 
Iowa TV viewers to see ads touting Rice in ’08
 Image trumps issues in elections (
study
 Coming soon to your TV:
year round Political ads
 
Bloggers may face campaign standards
 
FEC Weighs Limited Internet Activity Rules
 
Study: $100M Spent on TV Ads in Ohio Race 
 
Parties spent more on 2004 campaign ads

 
 COVERING THE ELECTION 
Articles Reviewing Election Night TV Coverage 
 Advertisers Learn From Candidates
 Do Attack Ads Work? You Bet -- and That's Not All Bad
 Attack of the Attack ads 
 
Today's Political Ads Use Yesterday's Tactics
 Hardball Ads Effective and win elections
 Half Million Ads Aired (So Far) in Pres. Race  
 Ad Buys: Winners & Losers
 
The History of Political TV Ads  
 
From Daisy to Willie, political ads in U.S.
 Creating Reagan's Image
 Campaign ads can mislead voters 
 
TV: Primary Information Source for Most 2004 Voters 

Site Updated on: 11/02/2009   

Visual Storytelling and the Competition for Political Meaning in Political Advertising and News in Campaign 2000   

Download these NEWS GRAPHICS:

 Many Who Voted for 'Values' Still Like Their Television Sin
 
Campaign Ad Buys (CNN)
 
Cities with most political ads
 
Appealing to Voter's Emotion
 
Campaign Ad Buys (CNN)
 Wisconsin Ad Project; Study of frequency of Pres. Ads on TV 
 
Media Battlegrounds 
 Campaign Ads On Cable       
 The Money Race 
 Where The Ad War Is Being Fought  Story
 Election Ads, So Far
 Updated: Ad Spending in Battleground States Handout                    
 
Ad Spending in Top 10 Battleground States (Handout)  
 Candidate Spending in Battleground States
 
Presidential Election Fundraising
 
Kerry/Bush's Target TV Audiences (and companion stories)   
 
South Carolina: Battleground counties in November
 PBS Electoral College Map  

 Recommended CURRICULUM/RESOURCES:

The candidate behind the curtain: A three-step program for analyzing campaign images
Political Conventions, Images & Spin
DOWNLOAD Political Ad Analysis Worksheet  HTML 
The Living Room Candidate (
web exhibit shows campaign persuasion)   
Willing Partners
: A Timeline History of Politicians & The Media
Editorial Cartoonists & Election Media Coverage
Cartoons for the Classroom:
Fine tooning a candidate's message
Cartoon Evaluation Worksheet
View Smart To Vote Smart