How does the Mass Media affect General Elections?

[Esmee]

Really stuck on a politics essay! I have this in my plan so far:

2010 elections- changing in party alignment for many newspapers – sun, guardian etc. less
lab support. TV debates- Nick Clegg did very well ‘Clegg Mania’ rise in L/D support – coalition.

2005 elections- only 3 newspapers supported cons and virtually all big newspapers supported Labour- giant circulation follows giant victory 1997 election- tiny bit- look at ‘sun wot won it’

BUT the TVs aren’t allowed to have a preference when it comes to elections so non-biased and that is what virtually everyone sees so surely more impact when it comes to informing the people so they can make their own decisions.

Rise in social media over the past couple of elections- Gillian Duffy- Browns popularity diminished- really down to the availability of information- YouTube was big in this example.
Also, social media means that the ‘people’ are closer to the main faces- David Cameron on Twitter @No10gov- basically the whole cabinet has twitter- @Deputyprimeminister

Newspapers are declining in power- people get their news online- BUT the newspapers still have influence there, as they have online papers too.

Rupert Murdoch- Media Empire. Too much control? Affects all readers views in some form as they get only biased information and decide their views because of this.

[VoteVoteVote]

Well, think of it this way.

Today, in the U.S.A., 20% of Republicans think Barack Obama is a secret Muslim who was born in Kenya.

The ONLY reason this is true is due to right-wing media propaganda.

For example, Fox News reported AS FACT that Obama went to a Madrassa. This was a LIE. CNN corrected them.

But, none of this should be shocking. Fox News actually SUED for the right to LIE on the news in Florida - and won.

Obama, 2012

[TIM V]

In short NEGATIVELY. They do not offer subjective analysis of candidates, it's more like a high school rumor mill on crack.
Just consider all the coverage on the recount in Florida during Gore vs Bush. They make the news they do not report it.

[Gregory S]

First of all, I am not a fan of capitalism due to the levels of greed it engenders and the helplessness it develops in the general population. It tempers growth with the majority.
In saying this I also realize the it can help teach patience, humility.
The reason for saying this in answer to your question is because I believe mass media organizations are caught up in the profit driven world and do not appear worried too much about the complete truth as apposed to sensationalism. I am sure there are some excellent journalists who would like to see there full reports on events published but are crippled by editors due to column space and the need for profit.
This drive for profit impacts on the reporting of general election campaigns. ie. What can we put our paper or media content to extract the pennies from the masses.
I know this sounds negative but is the simplistic truth.
Wherever the medias political or money driven benefits come from is where the slant of favor to a political party falls. I believe this is the case not only to the media but almost all money driven systems.There is more to my story but the above will suffice for now. -Gregory Adam Short

[RAGE]

Unfortunately, instead of reporting the facts they twist stories to increase sales.