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. 20-21/08

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. 21/08

Liberals Make Arts Promises,
Defend ‘Green Shift’

Liberal +18.5
NewsInfluence Index

· A positive CBC News item and several print articles highlight arts funding promises by Leader Stephane Dion. News reports also note a vigorous response to Conservative attacks on his ‘Green Shift’ environment policy. In balanced tones, CTV News observed the Liberal campaign has sent mixed messages on the environment in recent days.

· Negative front page coverage from the Edmonton Journal argued a Liberal carbon tax would hurt Alberta’s energy economy.

NDP +2.5
NewsInfluence Index

· Positive coverage for NDP policies on crime are offset by more negative media about candidate troubles in British Columbia.

· Several news reports emphasize the NDP has dropped candidates for promoting illegal drug use, and suggest Leader Jack Layton has sent mixed messages about marijuana.

BQ +2
NewsInfluence Index

· A light volume of coverage noted a consistent message from Leader Gilles Duceppe that only the Bloc Quebecois stands in the way of a majority Conservative government in Quebec ridings.

Green +1
NewsInfluence Index

· Positive regional coverage for campaign activities by Leader Elizabeth May in British Columbia is offset by negative news reports that the party’s policies would hurt Alberta’s economy.

Conservative 0
NewsInfluence Index

· Positive television and print news reports featured Leader Stephen Harper’s trip to the Arctic in the hopes of winning the party’s first seat north of 60 in 20 years.

· Positive coverage was entirely offset by negative media for the listeria health crisis. Several news reports, including a Calgary Herald front page headline, emphasized another death and more political fallout from the federal government’s handling of the listeria outbreak.

Liberal Leader Stephane Dion receives positive media for arts funding promises and responding to attacks on his ‘Green Shift’ policy. Candidate troubles offset positive news reports on NDP crime policies. Positive coverage for Conservative Leader Stephen Harper’s Arctic trip was dragged down by another listeria death and more health crisis fallout.