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. 21-22/08

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. 22/08

Light Coverage Highlights Green Rail Swing, Liberal Platform

Green +16.5
NewsInfluence Index

· Leader Elizabeth May receives prominent, positive coverage for starting a campaign swing by rail. News reports include an in depth item from CBC News, commentary from CBC Ottawa bureau chief Keith Boag, and front page attention from the Toronto Star.

Liberal +15.5
NewsInfluence Index

· Several print articles look ahead to the release Monday of the Liberal Party’s complete election platform. Front page coverage from the Globe and Mail anticipates the Liberals will promise to reverse a Conservative flip flop on tax treatment for income trusts.

· A National Post front page column looks at Liberal strength in Northern Ontario.

BQ +3
NewsInfluence Index

· CBC News notes a well established message track from Leader Gilles Duceppe that only the Bloc Quebecois can prevent a majority government in Quebec ridings.

NDP -3.5
NewsInfluence Index

· Negative coverage for ongoing candidate problems for the NDP more than offsets positive media attention for the party’s crime policies and a spirited campaign in Alberta.

Conservative -19
NewsInfluence Index

· The Conservative campaign hits another bump in election coverage, as several negative television and print items emphasize the resignation of a Toronto candidate. Negative media included reports from CBC News, CTV News, and a Toronto Star front page headline.

· A negative front page article from the Saskatoon StarPhoenix highlighted a satirical Web site launched in response to inappropriate comments by Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz about the national listeria outbreak.

· Negative media is partly offset by positive front page articles in the Montreal Gazette about strong performance by the Conservative Party in rural Quebec, and the Edmonton Journal about strength in military ridings.

A light volume of election news highlights a rail swing by Green Leader Elizabeth May and the announcement Monday of the Liberal election platform. The Conservative and NDP campaigns hit more trouble over party candidates. Negative Conservative coverage offsets positive articles about party strength in rural Quebec and military ridings.