4.2-influence of the media

Question 1

what are the arguments that the press is significant in policits

Answer 1

• media is an important source of political news, particularly for older voters who are more likely to vote
• as newspapers pose a biased view, they can significantly influence opinions.
• the conservatives have won the last four elections, and there is a right-wing bias in the press
• they can reinforce ideas already held by the public

Question 2

arguments that the press is insignificant

Answer 2

• new paper circulation has declined significantly
• news papers often follow public opinion
• most read newspapers that confirm their initial ideology
  -social media is arguably more important with a younger audience
  -inreasing distrust in media

Question 3

how has the circulation of daily mail news-papers changed

Answer 3

In 1997 they had a readership of 2.4 million, in 2012 they had a readership of 1.8 million, and in 2021, this fell to 909,000

Question 4

how could it be agrued the sun influenced the 1992 election

Answer 4

• On the day of the election, the sun had the headline, “If Kinnock (labour) wins today, will the last person to leave Britain please turn out the lights?”
• after the results, they ran the headline “It the sun who won it.” After John majors conservatives beat labour

Question 5

how does you gov polling from the 2017 election suggest that news-papers have very little influence

Answer 5

• 30% of Sun readers and 39% of Financial Times readers voted for labour in 2017 despite both parties backing the tories

Question 6

In what way did corbyn exeed media expectations in the 2017 election

Answer 6

• daily mail front page “corbin”
• very poor media image
• was able to perform better than expected

Question 7

what % of the vote did corbyn get in 2017?

Answer 7

• 40% of the vote
• just over 2 % less than may

Question 8

what channels have shown a shift away from radio neutrality

Answer 8

• gb news
• LBC: with James O’Brien taking a strong remain stance during the Brexit campaign

Question 9

How many average weekly listeners of GB news are there?

Answer 9

430,000

Question 10

what are arguments that tv and radio is significant during elections?

Answer 10

• can be particularly significant for younger voters using social media as clips of these debates may go viral
• tv debates can shape the view of voters as they act as a test for leadership
• between elections they can help to hold government to account

Question 11

what are the arguments that TV and radio are insignificant during elections?

Answer 11

-confirmation bias shapes the way media is viewed
- tv and radio can be seen to be less significant for younger voters
- debates can be insignificant if their is not a clear standout

Question 12

what is a key example to show that debates having a short living affect on opinion?

Answer 12

After the first leadership debate (2010), Nick Clegg saw a boost in polling, however this was temporary as voters swang back to other parties

Question 13

give an example that shows debates having an insignificant affect on polling.

Answer 13

In the 2017 leadership debates (corbyn and may), neither leader came out particularly victorious.
This was shown in the subsequent polling which showed neither leader with a significant lead

Question 14

what are arguments in favour of social media being significant in elections?

Answer 14

• social media is central to younger voters
• social media can lead to viral scandals that can easily damage a party’s image
• social media is key to how parties try to reach voters

Question 15

In a 2015 ispos survey, what % of people said they relied on online media to inform themselves? what % of young people said they believe social media will inlfuence their vote?

Answer 15

• a 2015 survey indicated that 79% of 18-24-year-olds relied almost totally on online sources to inform themselves
• 1/3 said they believed social media would influence their vote

Question 16

how mcuh did labour, the conservatives and the lib dems spend on social media avertising in 2019?

Answer 16

• labour spent 2.4 million
• conservatives spent 900,000
• lib dems spent 900,000

Question 17

What are the arguments to show that social media is insignificant in elections?

Answer 17

• alot of social media coverage is dominated by traditional forms of media and journalists.
• algorithm means that most see media that confirms their ideology
• insignificant to older voters

Question 18

give an example of when opinion polls significantly failed to predict the results of an election. what was an explaination for this?

Answer 18

in the 1992 general election 38/50 polls showed suggested a labour lead

Question 19

what are the arguments that polling is significant

Answer 19

• they can influence turnout
• can influence voter behaviour, particularly in tactical voting. (e.g if opinion polls indicate the results will be close)
• may shape party politics
• can influence the focus of the media

Question 20

what are the arguments that polling is insignificant?

Answer 20

• simply reflects the views of the public
• public pays very little attention to polling
• is often innacurate

Question 21

give an example when polling may have caused increased turnout/ changes in voter behavior?

Answer 21

• 2010
• the close polling may have incentivised Lib Dem voters to vote Tory to avoid labour
• close polling may have increased turnout as it feels that the vote holds more weight (66.4% turnout)
• also in the Brexit vote (72.2% turnout)

Question 22

how large is the sample size for you gov polling?

Answer 22

1500 (average)

Question 23

what was wrong with 2015 polling?

Answer 23

• on average polls showed both lab and conc on 34% of the vote
• no individual poll put conservatives ahead
• believed to be due to biased sampling that overrepresented labour supporters

Question 24

Give an example of when polling influenced the focus of the media.

Answer 24

2015 general election
- focus on the close race between parties
- focus on the potential for a labour- SNP coalition
- SNP won 56/59 seats

Question 25

Give an example of when polling influences party politics.

Answer 25

• 2014 indiref
• polling consistently was inconclusive
• a single you gov poll suggested a 2% lead for the yes campaign
• the ‘No’ campaign then made “The vow” of greater devolution if scotland remained a part of the UK

Question 26

how many people watched the 2010 leadership debates?

Answer 26

9.4 million across the whole time of it airing

Question 27

how did the media influence the post office scandal?

Answer 27

• the post office scandal had recieved very little attention until an ITV documentary and a newsnight investigation
• the media attention put pressure on the government
• the government introduced a new and improved compensation scheme for the subpostmasters

Question 28

what was significant about 2010 oxford analysis of polling?

Answer 28

• 75% felt they had learnt more about leadership
• 55% of young people said they become more interested

Question 29

polling after the 2019 general election

Answer 29

34% said they felt the debates had helped them decide what party to vote for