Podcast Summary
Media in elections: The influence of newspapers in shaping public opinion during elections has significantly decreased due to the rise of digital media, and politicians must adapt to the evolving media landscape
Learning from this conversation between BBC podcast hosts Adam Fleming, David Yellen, Simon Lewis, and Alex Forsyth is the changing role of media in elections, specifically the diminished influence of newspapers. During the discussion, they reflected on the advice given by Matthew Freud, a prominent figure in public relations, to Keir Starmer to ignore the media. Although politicians still engage with the media, the influence of newspapers, which once held a monopoly on public attention, has significantly decreased due to the rise of digital media. While newspapers have grown their digital reach and traffic, it's crucial for younger listeners to remember the historical significance of newspapers in shaping public opinion. Overall, the conversation highlights the importance of adapting to the evolving media landscape in modern politics.
Impact of Traditional Print Media on Elections: Traditional print media's influence on elections and public opinion has diminished, with declining circulation and less clout for endorsements. Social media and influential individuals offer more effective ways to connect with audiences.
The traditional print media's influence in shaping elections and public opinion is significantly diminished compared to a decade ago. Newspapers like the Daily Express, Mirror, and Daily Mail have experienced substantial declines in circulation, with the Daily Mail's print circulation now at 688,000. While their reach is still important, especially for parties looking to target specific constituencies, their impact on elections may no longer be as significant as it once was. Additionally, the rise of social media and influential individuals on these platforms can offer more effective ways to connect with audiences. However, newspapers still create a mood within political parties and can influence the narrative, even if their endorsements hold less clout. The decline of local papers has added to the challenges for right-leaning papers in particular, as they strive to report accurately on a conservative party that's struggling and prone to PR mishaps.
Local newspapers and elections: Local newspapers and programs like the Today program continue to influence elections by highlighting local issues and scrutinizing candidates, despite challenges from digital media and the absence of hustings.
Local newspapers still play a crucial role in elections by highlighting local issues and scrutinizing candidates, despite their diminished resources and circulation. The Today program, like local newspapers, continues to have significant influence and reach, with a focus on breaking and explaining the biggest stories. However, the absence of hustings and the shift towards digital media pose challenges for local media and democracy. The speakers expressed concern about the impact of these changes on local democracy and the importance of maintaining local coverage and scrutiny.
BBC Radio's Influence During Elections: Despite the flexibility of broadcast media schedules, journalists must cover parties' messages and uncover hidden information to keep the public informed and maintain an active democracy.
The Today program on BBC Radio and broadcast media as a whole still hold significant influence and reach in the UK, particularly during election campaigns. The grid of pre-planned announcements may not be as rigid as it once was, as events and unexpected happenings can significantly impact the course of a campaign. However, it's crucial for journalists to provide coverage of the parties' messages while also attempting to uncover what they're not saying. This dual responsibility helps ensure that the public is well-informed and that democracy remains active and engaging. Additionally, living in a country where we still have a "water cooler moment" through broadcast media is a privilege, as it allows for a sense of connection and shared experience among a large audience.
Authenticity in politics: The public's skepticism towards repetitive messages and performances from politicians is increasing, and politicians must adapt to the changing media landscape to engage with voters in a more genuine and authentic manner.
The public is increasingly skeptical of politicians who repeat the same messages and perform in various media formats without authenticity. During the recent election, there was a noticeable decrease in the focus on debate formats and an increase in the number of interviews and debates with party leaders and senior figures. However, the audience's patience wore thin when they saw the same stories and lines being repeated ad nauseam. The proliferation of media performances, particularly broadcast interviews, has heightened the public's awareness and expectation for genuine engagement and authenticity from political figures. The challenge for politicians is to adapt to this changing media landscape and find ways to connect with voters in a more genuine and authentic manner.
Political Communication: Effective political communication requires a balance between repetition of key messages and showing a human side. Politicians must avoid bad moments and capitalize on good ones, while the media's focus on minor issues can be seen as a criticism of the media rather than the politician.
Effective communication in politics requires a balance between repetition of key messages and showing a human side. Politicians like Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak face the challenge of repeating their messages to avoid mistakes while also engaging audiences. Broadcasters' repetition of interviews can make this difficult. However, humanizing moments, like Kirsten's Taylor Swift concert picture, can show a relatable side and create memorable imagery. In a campaign, it's essential to avoid bad moments and capitalize on good ones. The media's focus on minor issues, like Rishi Sunak's visit to the Titanic quarter, can be seen as a criticism of the media rather than the politician. Ultimately, the Prime Minister must make the big decisions and trust their team, even in the heat of the campaign. The media's treatment of political figures can be influenced by their biases, and recent developments, like the Daily Mail's shift in coverage towards Nigel Farage, demonstrate this power.
Social Media Elections: Social media platforms significantly influence voters' decisions in the 2021 UK election, with organic content often reaching more people than paid content. However, misinformation, hateful comments, and AI-generated clips are downsides. Different platforms have varying impacts, and right-wing politicians seem to be more effective due to simple messages and quick responses.
That the 2021 UK election is unique in being the "first social media election" for the sixth time, and social media platforms are increasingly influencing voters' decisions. BBC's social media correspondent, Marianna Spring, shared her findings from investigating social media feeds of undercover voters. She noticed that organic content, such as videos, memes, and posts, often reaches more people than paid content. Political parties, activist supporters, and unidentified accounts are leveraging this trend to spread messages and influence the narrative. However, there are downsides, including the spread of misinformation, hateful comments, and AI-generated clips. Moreover, different social media platforms have varying impacts. For instance, Instagram has been effective for Keir Starmer and Gary Neville, while Twitter has been influential for Nigel Farage. The right-wing politicians seem to be more effective on social media due to the simplicity of their messages and the speed at which they can respond. It's essential for politicians and businesses to focus on the message rather than just the delivery mechanism. Overall, social media's influence on the election is a significant development, and understanding its impact is crucial.
Media Show collaboration: The trio behind BBC's The Media Show are excited to merge their individual podcasts into one weekly mashup, providing a unique and engaging listening experience while ensuring a consistent flow of content, despite the challenges of different podcasting styles and topics.
The trio behind the BBC podcast "The Media Show," David, Emma, and Alex, expressed their excitement and gratitude for the opportunity to merge their individual podcasts into one weekly mashup. They discussed the challenges they faced in ensuring a consistent flow of content, with David admitting to his addiction to crises and current events. Emma highlighted the fun and educational aspect of the show, which aims to lift the veil on the world of PR and communications. Alex took the opportunity to promote Newscast, and they all agreed that listeners could access all their podcasts on BBC Sounds. Despite the challenges, they are looking forward to continuing the collaboration and providing listeners with a unique and engaging listening experience. The trio also assured listeners that the regular "Today" podcast would continue as usual, recording and releasing daily.