Why does broadcast news cover politics so insubstantially?
October 17, 2007 at 9:19 am by Wayne GarciaBecause it is in their best interest to do so. Why cover politics in-depth at the local news level when the candidates are going to spend $3 billion with you anyway and your coverage could jeopardize that biennial revenue windfall.
CNN reports today that political TV ad spending will reach that total in the 2008 cycle:
The cost to try to influence the 2008 election could exceed $3 billion, according to TNS Media Intelligence/Campaign Media Analysis Group, CNN’s consultant on political television advertising.
This is nearly twice as much than what was spent in 2004 when political and issue-advocacy television advertising rang in at $1.7 billion. In 2006, $2.3 billion was spent on political and issue-advocacy TV commercials.
Notice that the growth in spending on television is beginning to look exponential. That is why candidates do nothing but raise money for two years before an election, why Democratic presidential candidates are still strong-arming contributions out of Florida at the same time they are scared to death to mention any issue of importance to the state or speak with Florida-based reporters.
And what do we gain from all those :30 spots? As a democracy, not a damned thing.
