Reporting Elections: Rethinking the Logic of Campaign Coverage

The news media's coverage of elections has a significant impact on the health of democracy and informed citizenship. This book examines how campaigns are reported in advanced Western democracies and argues that election reporting should be driven by a public logic, focusing on the agenda of voters and the policies of political parties. It is essential reading for scholars and students in political communication and journalism studies, political science, and media and communication studies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 26 January 2018
Publisher: Polity Press

The way elections are reported holds significant implications for the health of democracy and informed citizenship. However, the extent to which the news media provides informative coverage during campaign periods remains a subject of debate. This research aims to examine the logic followed by the media during campaigns and assess their effectiveness in serving citizens.

To achieve this, Cushion and Thomas have conducted extensive original research and analyzed the most comprehensive assessment of election studies to date. Their findings shed light on how campaigns are reported in many advanced Western democracies, engaging with debates about the mediatization of politics, media systems, information environments, media ownership, regulation, political news, horserace journalism, objectivity, impartiality, agenda-setting, and the relationship between media and democracy more broadly.

In the context of the recent US and UK election campaigns, the authors consider how the logic of election coverage could be rethought to better serve the democratic needs of citizens. They argue that election reporting should be driven by a public logic, where the agenda of voters takes center stage in the campaign and the policies of respective political parties receive more airtime and independent scrutiny.

This book is a valuable resource for scholars and students in political communication and journalism studies, political science, media and communication studies. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the media's role in election coverage and offers insightful recommendations for improving the quality and integrity of political journalism. By examining the logic followed by the media during campaigns, this book contributes to our understanding of how elections are shaped and how citizens can engage with the political process more effectively.

Weight: 310g
Dimension: 140 x 216 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781509517510