Essay: Evaluate the view that election campaigns are too little too late in the face of a biased media.

Question 1

Themes

Answer 1

• Impact of newspapers
• Social media
• Television

Question 2

Intro

Answer 2

• There are many examples of bias within the media
• E.g. - it is clear that various British tabloids are unapologetically partisans
• There are questions as to whether campaigns conducted by political parties actually make a significant difference in the lead up to an election, in terms of helping to form the electorates’ opinions
• The ways in which it can be determined whether election campaigns are too little too late in the face of biased media are newspapers, social media and television
• On balance - can be argued that the media are more impactful than campaigning as they help voters to form their opinions over a long period of time, across a parliamentary term for example

Question 3

P1 - Newspapers - media more significant

Answer 3

• Sway the views of voters by focusing on personality - and they switch ideological allegiance and party allegiance based on changing circumstance
• E.g. - the Sun - started as Labour - but supported Thatcher in late 1970s - switched back to Labour in 1997 - swung to the Conservatives in 2015
• 1970s - detachment of Unions aligned with Murdoch’s business interests - 1997 - Blair said business had nothing to fear from Labour
• ## Tend to back the party who’s leading in polls

Question 4

P2 - Newspapers - campaigning more significant

Question 5

P3 - social media - media more significant

Question 6

P4 - social media - campaigning more significant

Question 7

P5 - television - media more significant

Question 8

P6 - television - campaigning more significant