Publication
Title
Does media attention lead to personal electoral success? Differences in long and short campaign media effects for top and ordinary political candidates
Author
Abstract
Although elections are not won in the media, scholars agree that media visibility impacts politicians electoral success. This study examines what effect media visibility has on the individual electoral success of all political candidates competing in PR-list system elections. We focus on media effects during the short and long campaign and investigate how these effects vary between types of candidates. We position media attention in a broader framework of factors influencing electoral success. Our findings show that for top candidates long campaign media attention predicts their electoral success, whereas for ordinary candidates attention during the short campaign matters most. Candidates also differ regarding indirect media effects, which is reflected especially in the gender bias of the media. Therefore, future research ought to be aware of candidate differences and temporal dynamics when inferring the electoral effects of media coverage. Overall, our findings indicate that the choices journalists make to report about some politicians and not about others have an actual impact on the electoral outcome and political careers.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Acta politica : international journal of political science. - Meppel, 1965, currens
Publication
Meppel : 2020
ISSN
0001-6810 [print]
1741-1416 [online]
DOI
10.1057/S41269-018-0109-X
Volume/pages
55 :2 (2020) , p. 156-174
ISI
000522657000002
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
Understanding personalized voting. Media and campaign effects in local and national elections.
Publication type
Subject
Law 
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 17.10.2018
Last edited 09.10.2023
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