Role of Families/Role of Polls & Pundits - November 28th

Answer one of the following questions:

Question #1: What role did the candidates’ wives and families play in this campaign and how does it compare to previous elections?  Do you think that family members are effective surrogates for presidential candidates?  Refer to the Burns reading to support your response as well as references to two media sources.     

Question #2: What role did consultants, pundits, special interests, and polls play in this election?  Refer to at least one of this week’s readings as well as your media sources to support your answer. 

Election Wrap-Up - November 14th

How would you assess the coverage of the election results?  What form of campaign communication do you think was most effective for the winning candidate?  What hurt/was the least effective for the loser?  Be sure to refer to at least one of the class readings from this semester as well as two media sources to support your response. 

Talk Shows - October 24th

Have talk shows been an effective way for the candidates and their surrogates to campaign during this election?  If you were a campaign strategist, would you suggest more or less use of talk shows are campaign platforms?  You should reference Jones Ch. 3 as well as your media sources in your response.    

Debates - October 17th

Describe at least three of the debate strategies we’ve seen so far this year (drawing on Trent et al Ch. 8).  How would you characterize the news media coverage of the debates? 

Comedy & Politics - October 10th

Compare coverage of this year’s campaign/candidates by the news media to how they are being presented on comedy programs.  Drawing on the Jones or Matviko readings, what impact do you think these satirical shows are having on this year’s election? 

Internet & Social Media - October 3rd

How are the campaigns and their supporters using the Internet and social media in this campaign and how does it differ from previous campaigns? According to news media coverage, what kind of impact are "new media" having on the 2012 campaign?  Be sure to draw on at least one of this week’s readings in addition to your media sources to support your answer.    

Campaign Ads - September 19th

Which kinds of ads do you think are more persuasive – positive or negative ads?  What types of advertisements are we seeing this year?  Are they more positive or negative in tone, and what kind of media attention are they attracting?  To support your answer, offer examples of at least three different types of ads (based on the categories outlined by Trent et al Ch. 5).  Be sure to identify who produced each ad (ex: Romney campaign, Super PAC supporting Obama, etc.).