There are many different parts of the political election campaign. This campaign is a vital element of a democratic system. The media plays and important role in the way we view the candidates in the campaign. "The media report and comment upon the process and voters respond with enthusiasm, disgust, or indifference." Voters are "news consumers" and when they watch the news their "attitudes about politics are being shaped." According to research journalists are more trusted by people then politicians. Since journalists uncovered the Watergate scandal "reporters believed that the press saved American democracy and that it had a continuing responsibility to protect the public from lying, manipulative politicians." So if the media has a terrible image of the candidate and is conveying this image to the American public, they would need to do a lot to change the voter's perceptions.
Politics is big business not just for the candidates, but also for the news organizations that cover government and the electoral process.
Richard Milhous Nixon, 37th President of the Unite...
United States
speaking during an interview in July 1, 1983.Rare is the campaign that doesn't rely on 'media events' to display its wares to the voters. Equally rare is the news organization that doesn't spend much time and money trying to make political coverage palatable to an audience that is only mildly interested in politics.
"Media coverage is important in terms of generating positive images and name recognition." Media's role is even more important for the candidates that have less funding. This is because the less money a candidate has the harder it is to have the funds to challenge all primaries. These funds will also therefore not be available for later contests, which would hurt the presidential candidate's campaign.
The beginning of the process of choosing a presidential candidate begins with caucuses and primaries. The campaigning for the primaries might begin six to twelve months...