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 - Sept. 13-14/08

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

Sept. 14/08

NDP Gaining Ground on Liberals

NDP +17.5
NewsInfluence Index

· Positive television and print coverage featured an NDP rally in Toronto, described as the party’s largest yet in the campaign. News reports emphasized Leader Jack Layton’s message against consumer price gouging as gasoline prices skyrocketed in the wake of Hurricane Ike.

· News reports observed the NDP had a good first week in the campaign, marred only by Layton’s misstep in opposing the Green Party’s participation in televised leaders’ debates.

· Media coverage delivered a message that the NDP is gaining ground on the opposition Liberals.

Conservative +3.5
NewsInfluence Index

· A significant volume of media coverage for the Conservatives was mixed in tone, resulting in a low NewsInfluence index.

· Several negative news reports  including the Edmonton Journal front page and inside articles in the Calgary Herald, Ottawa Citizen and Montreal Gazette, featured Ipsos Reid poll results suggesting Prime Minister Stephen Harper lost ground in his approval ratings during the campaign’s first week.

· In balanced tones, news reports noted campaign events in Newfoundland, where Harper is harshly criticized by Premier Danny Williams.

Liberal +3
NewsInfluence Index

· Balanced coverage highlighted Leader Stephane Dion’s campaign promise in British Columbia on immigration  policy, and observed he continues an uphill battle in communicating the party’s ‘Green Shift’ policy on the environment.

· A negative Montreal Gazette front page headline emphasized ‘No Love for Dion in Quebec,’ where polls show he remains an unpopular leader.

Green +1
NewsInfluence Index

· A Vancouver Province item noted support from Green Party Leader Elizabeth May for MP Blair Wilson, despite local controversy over his campaign spending.

BQ +1
NewsInfluence Index

· In balanced tones, a Montreal Gazette item observed the Bloc Quebecois is battling the Conservative Party in a key riding.

A significant volume of positive election coverage featured the largest NDP rally yet in Toronto, highlighted Leader Jack Layton’s message against consumer price gouging, and observed the party is gaining ground on the opposition Liberals. Conservative media coverage was mixed in tone.