CANADA ELECTION ANALYSIS 2008

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 NDP

n CTV

n CBC

n Global / Canwest

n Globe and Mail

n Toronto Star

NewsInfluence Index - Oct. 1-2/08

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.

French Televised Debates Oct. 2/08

Conservatives Hit by Wave
of Negative Election Coverage

Liberal +40.5
NewsInfluence Index

· Leader Stephane Dion received positive media coverage for his performance in the French televised leaders’ debate, delivering a message that he exceeded expectations, offered new proposals on the economy, and accused Prime Minister Stephen Harper of putting Canada at risk with laissez faire attitudes amid growing turmoil in financial markets.

· Commentary from CTV News and CBC News said Dion surprised viewers with spirited attacks against Harper.

Green +26
NewsInfluence Index

· Several news reports pointed out Green Party Leader Elizabeth May made a positive impact in her debut in the televised debates, despite her struggle to command the French language.

· News reports said she punched her messages through on the environment and the economy, and provided several lighter moments during the debate, including comments praising the prime minister as a devoted father of charming children.

Bloc Quebecois +17
NewsInfluence Index

· Leader Gilles Duceppe was widely praised for living up to past strong performances in the French debate.

· Duceppe tended to be overshadowed in national news coverage, which focused on challenges faced by Liberal Leader Dion and the novelty of the Green Party.

NDP +16
NewsInfluence Index

· Television news coverage downplayed a strong French debate by Leader Jack Layton. But widely published coverage from Canwest News highlighted his comments about Conservative budget cuts to arts and culture funding.

Conservative -23
NewsInfluence Index

· In balanced tones, several television and print items observed that Leader Stephen Harper remained calm and unflustered as he faced a barrage of attacks from opposition leaders.

· CTV News commentary suggested Harper appeared to French viewers as unengaged and unresponsive, and he may have further hurt his election chances in Quebec.

· Balanced coverage from the leaders’ debate was more than offset by a heavy volume of negative election coverage concerning the Benier affair.

· Prominent news reports, including a Saskatchewan StarPhoenix front page article, featured harsh attacks by Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams over the government’s handling of the listeria outbreak.

· News reports observed that recent polls show voter support ebbing away from the Conservatives in Quebec.

Several negative media items unrelated to the French leaders’ debate targeted the Conservative Party over the Bernier Affair, the listeria outbreak, and dimming hopes in Quebec for a majority government. Liberal Leader Stephane Dion received positive reviews for his performance in the first televised debate, suggesting he effectively challenged the government’s handling of the economy.