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Canada Votes 2008
Lifeline Communications will provide ongoing analysis of campaign media coverage during Election 2008.
Our media analysis will feature our NewsInfluence Index, which offers an indicator of the tone, volume and prominence of campaign coverage in major national news media. |
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Resources |
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Media Links |
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NewsInfluence Index - Oct. 9-10/08 |
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NewsInfluence Index Lifeline Communications calculates our NewsInfluence index, based on the number, prominence and tone of media items. The formula offsets negative, neutral, and positive media coverage, and assigns greater weight to prominent media items such as front page articles and higher ranking in television newscasts. The NewsInfluence index provides an indicator of the volume and tone of campaign coverage received by political parties in national news media.
The NewsInfluence Index covers major campaign items published in the Victoria Times Colonist, Vancouver Sun, Edmonton Journal, Calgary Herald, Regina Leader-Post, Saskatchewan StarPhoenix, Winnipeg Free Press, Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, National Post, Ottawa Citizen, and Montreal Gazette. The index also covers major campaign news items in television newscasts by CBC, CTV and Global National.
© Lifeline Communications Group Inc. 2005 - 2008 |
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Oct. 10/08
Conservatives Hammered by Negative News on Afghanistan, Economy |
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Conservative -110.5 · Heading into the campaign’s final weekend, Leader Stephen Harper suffered with worst media coverage of the election. · Already positioned as out of touch on voter fears over the economy, television news and front page coverage featured a message shift by the Conservative Party on the world financial crisis. · News reports explained the Conservative government is crafting a credit plan for Canadian banks, in a bid to bolster consumer and business lending as the global storm washes into Canada. · Extensive coverage delivered a message that the Conservative government failed to keep its promise on transparency and accountability for the full costs of the war in Afghanistan. · The Parliamentary Budget Officer appointed by the Conservative government estimated war costs at up to $18 billion, far higher than costs disclosed by the government. NDP +45 · Leader Jack Layton received prominent media attention for his attacks on the Conservative government over its failure to disclose full costs for the Afghan war, and a move by Canada’s banks not to pass on the full interest rate cut announced by the Bank of Canada. · Prominent print coverage in Saskatchewan observed the NDP are mounting a stiff challenge to Conservative incumbents. Liberal +14 · Positive election coverage for the Liberals was dragged by negative media attention for a television interview bungled badly by Leader Stephane Dion in Atlantic Canada. Bloc Quebecois +6 · National coverage emphasized the Bloc Quebecois has successfully turned the tables on the Conservative government in Quebec, gaining voter support over missteps on budget cuts to arts and culture and tough new proposals on youth crime. Green Party +2 · A Globe and Mail article highlighted criticism from the Green Party for strategic voting in the close election race. |
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On the last Friday before voting day, the Conservative government was swamped by a tsunami of negative headlines and television news. Election coverage positioned the government as shifting policy on the world financial crisis, crafting a credit plan for banks after weeks of saying the fundamentals are sound. News reports also emphasized the Conservative government failed to meet its promise of transparency and accountability on Afghan war costs. |
