Leveling the Playing Field : An Examination of Compensatory Journalism in the 2008 Republican Primary

If the government ever gets around to putting a warning on TV campaign commercials the way they do on cigarettes, maybe it out to read something like this: If in the heat of a presidential campaign you’re tempted to buy something one guy says about the other guy in his TV ads, caveat emptor – buyer beware. -ABC’s Richard Threlkeld on the October 19, 1988 World News Tonight

If the government ever gets around to putting a warning on TV campaign commercials the way they do on cigarettes, maybe it out to read something like this: If in the heat of a presidential campaign you’re tempted to buy something one guy says about the other guy in his TV ads, caveat emptor – buyer beware.

-ABC’s Richard Threlkeld on the October 19, 1988 World News Tonight

The Forbes campaign spurns the vision of Iowa as the last bastion of grassroots, flesh-pressing politics. Instead, [he] treats Iowa as just another piece of political property that’s up for sale. -CBS’s Eric Engberg on the February 2, 1996 Evening News

Negative Coverage

Negative Coverage

Positive Coverage

Positive Coverage

Coverage of TV Ads

Coverage of TV Ads

Coverage of TV Ads

Coverage of TV Ads

Coverage of Romney’s Self-financing

Coverage of Romney’s Self-financing

Coverage of Romney’s Campaign Spending

Coverage of Romney’s Campaign Spending

Horse Race Coverage

Horse Race Coverage

Survey Says… Compensatory Journalism was present in the 2008 Republican Primary

Compensatory Journalism was

present in the 2008 Republican

Primary