Media Flashcards
(14 cards)
Evaluate the view that the influence of the media is exaggerated- Themes
Elections
Holding gov to account
Undermining Democracy
Elections- Influence of media is exaggerated
Voters don’t simply follow what media says but form their own opiniona
Many have strong allegiances to parties and are highly unlikely to be swayed
Pre-election polling 2024 indicated majority of readers of prominent right wing leaning newspapers intended to vote Labour
Most indidivduals also consume the media and political opinions they already agree with so it only reinforces their views, especially true for social media where content is specifically targeted
Elections- Influence of media not exaggerated
During elections, most newspapers come out strongly in favour of a party and effectively campaign for one party
Conservatives won 4 elections 2010-19 with majority support from the press, but lost in 2024 after losing press support
2019- Tories partly launched manifesto in Telegraph
2024- Telegraph published tactical voting guide to stop Starmer winning landslide
Tv debates and interviews are key moments in campaigns
2017- May refusing to take party in debate with Corbyn made her look weak to public
2024- Sunak leaving D-Day commemorations early spread quickly on social media
Hold gov to account- Influence of media is exaggerated
Parliament play a far more important role in holding gov to account
Much of population pay little attention to politics and political media, especially outside election campaigns
Ability to hold to account limited by government’s seeking to control the news agenda
eg in 2023- Home Sec Suella Braverman only invited journalists from right-wing media outlets to her controversial Rwanda visit as they were expecrted to report favourably on the policy
Shows how gov attempts to manipulate coverage and limit scutiny by the media
Hold gov to account- Influence of media not exaggerated
Media plays key role in holding gov to account and exposing failures between elections
Media crucial in exposing Partygate scnadal, receiving leaks and exposing stories gradually to cause maximum damage
Freedom of Info requests by media outlets crucial in exposing ‘freebiegate’ scandal in summer of 2024
Ministers are regularly interviewed on TV and radios
eg Series of disastrous local radio interviews important in exposing Truss’ economic policy failures
Undermining Democracy- Influence of media is exaggerated
Media doesn’t undermine democracy but plays a positive role
A free media is vital for a healthy democracy and plays essential role in holding governments to account, especially when parliamentary opposition is weak
March 2023- Telegraph published leaked Whatsapp messaged from Matt Hancock former Health sec revealing details about governments handling of pandemic
Media act independently of the government, prioritising public interest and journalistic integrity over political allegiance
Undermining democracy- Influence of media not exaggerated
Large sections of media present oversimplified interpretations of political issues, focus too much on leaders, personalities and images
Newspapers notoriously partisan and alter allegiances in response to changing circumstances
Negatively impacts democracy as newspaper owners can’t be held to account in same way as politicians, yet wield significant influence
eg Guardian reported that media tycoon Rupert Murdoch met with Sunak 5 times over a 12 month period in 2022-3, showing politicans seek to secure favourable media coverage
Governments increasingly make important announcements in TV studios rather than Commons, undermining the scrutininy of executive and democracy as MPs are elected to do this
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Evaluate the view that social media is now more important than traditional forms of media- Themes
SM v Newspapers
SM v TV and Radio
SM v Opinion Polls
Newspapers more important than SM
Around 7M people read newspapers in UK, key source of political info and views particularly older voters
Press being important in reaching older voters seen by Keir Starmer actively engaging with right-wing publications in effort to broaden appeal and reach out to traditionally conservative voters
Newspapers have biased view so bigger impact on changing people’s opinions
eg The Sun has backed the winner in every GE since 1979
Political coverage on social media is dominated by traditional media forms, with journalists using X in particular
SM more important than newspapers
Internet and SM central to how younger voters consume political information
Parties and MPs focus a great deal on influencing views of voter on SM
Scandals fo viral during election campaigns eg Sunak leaving D-Day commemorations early
Spending on digital advertising in 2024 higher than any previous election- Labour spent over £2M on Google Ads
TV and Radio more important than SM
TV helps leaders form an impression of party leaders, especially during debates
eg Negative coverage of Corbyn focused on personality and scruffy appearance, 2017 May refusing to debate Corbyn made her look weak
eg Disastrous local radio interviews with Truss exposed failures of economic policies
SM more important than TV and Radio
SM allows traditional forms of media to have a wider impact
Clips and sound bites often go viral eg April 2024, viral clip of Question Time of MInister for Crime, Policing and FIre thinking Congo was a part of Rwanda when defending the policy
On SM, voters can put forward opinions and sway others
Only a small portion of electorate watch TV debates- 2024 just 4.8M, 2M less than 2019
Opinion polls more important than SM
Opinion polls affect turnouts and tactical voting
Turnout higher if polls indicate the election will be close
eg 2015 and 2016 Ref which both had higher turnouts as outcomes were not clear
Gives indication of who is likely to win locally and nationally
Important in shaping policy eg 2022- polls showing sections of public opposed trans rights played role in Conservative party leadership elections being opposed to trans rights
SM more important than opinion polls
Significance of opinion polls can be overstated, majority of voters pay little attention to them
Opinion polls often only reach voterws through SM
OPs often wrong, many fail to disclose they will vote Conservative- ‘shy Tories’
2015- predicted Lab and Cons each winning 34% of vote and reality Co
