Role of the media

Question 1

Influence of the media

Answer 1

• Spreading of substantiated facts

- increasingly used to spread ideas

Question 2

Broadcasting

Answer 2

Broadcast networks by law have to be neutral
The BBC, ITV and Sky have all held leadership debates however there is no link between these results and election results
Eg 2015 , Miliband narrowly won the debate yet lost an election his party was predicted to win

Question 3

The press

Answer 3

There are no laws on press regulation and newspapers are highly politicalised
Today more newspapers support the Conservative party eg the sun and the daily mail
Newspapers tend to reflect the views of people rather than influence them.
Eg Corbyn received 40% of the national vote with only one newspaper supporting him

Question 4

Social media

Answer 4

• Difficult for any one party to have an advantage
• unregulated
• Useful for smaller parties to gain influence eg UKIP who don’t have the resources to compete with large parties in conventional ways

Question 5

Media influence on the 1997

Answer 5

Influence : The sun switched to supporting Labour and Blair won
Lack : Polls suggest labour was on track for a victory anyway

Question 6

2015

Answer 6

Influence : Miliband fell off the stage and gave a “hell yes” answer to a question making him appear less prime ministerial
Lack : opinion polls suggest that there was no real difference in voting intentions

Question 7

2019

Answer 7

Influence : Conservatives had 2500 paid for ads on Facebook and labour only had 250

Lack : Lib Dems had 3000 paid ads on Facebook