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.

Resources

Media Links

n Elections Canada

n Liberal Party

n Conservative Party

n NDP

n Green Party

n CTV

n CBC

n Global / Canwest

n Globe and Mail

n Toronto Star

NewsInfluence Index - Oct. 11-12/08

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

Oct. 12/08

Conservatives Nurse Falling Support Across Finish Line

Conservative +30.5
NewsInfluence Index

· Election coverage emphasized that a majority government is definitely out of reach for the Conservative Party.

· Television and print news reports raised expectations the government will lose some key ridings in Quebec and British Columbia, while party strategists hoped for improved results in Ontario.

· News reports observed the latest weekend poll results were mixed, with some showing the Conservative Party continuing to trend down two days before voting day.

· Election coverage predicted the most likely result would be another Conservative minority government.

Liberal +21
NewsInfluence Index

· News reports highlighted a call by Leader Stephane Dion for Green Party supporters to rally around the Liberal Party in a bid to block another Conservative government.

· In negative tones, a CTV News item said it would take a “miracle” for the Liberal Party to defeat the Conservative government on election day.

NDP +19
NewsInfluence Index

· Leader Jack Layton received prominent television coverage for a campaign rally in Montreal, where he encouraged Quebec voters to rally around the NDP in opposition to the Conservative government.

Bloc Quebecois +14
NewsInfluence Index

· National news reports pointed out the Bloc Quebecois has turned back the Conservative campaign in Quebec, and threatened to defeat some key government candidates.

· News reports raised expectations the Bloc will take some ridings away from the Conservatives in Quebec City, and defeat Public Works Minister Michael Fortier, who had been appointed to the Senate in the previous government.

Green Party +8
NewsInfluence Index

· Election coverage pointed out Leader Elizabeth May is mounting a stiff challenge to Defence Minister Peter MacKay in his Nova Scotia riding.

The influence of news coverage declined significantly with several major newspapers not publishing Sunday, and family attention turning away from the campaign during the Thanksgiving weekend. More newspapers are scheduled not to publish on the holiday Monday before voting day. Predicting there will be no majority government and a close election result, news reports delivered a message that the Conservatives were  nursing a declining  lead in voter support across the finish line.