significance of the media

• Significant - 1979 “Crisis, what crisis?” -> Callaghan never said this yet it caught public attention and suggested he was out of touch
• Significant - 1997 Sun switching allegiance from Cons to Labour -> persuaded Cons voters to vote Lab
• Significant - Clegg’s victory at televised debate -> raised his profile at Cons’ expense
• Significant - 2015 debate -> Miliband fell off of stage and said, “Hell yes I’m tough enough”, appearing less prime ministerial
• Significant - Facebook ads -> 2019, Cons had 2500 ads and Lab only had 250
• Significant - Media scrutiny -> 2009 Daily Telegraph on Expenses Scandal + reporting on 2018 Windrush Scandal forced Home Secretary resignation and public investigation
• Significant - Influencing between elections -> 1992-97 investigated scandals around Cons MPs, “cash for questions”, leading to a reputation for sleaze
• Significant - Influencing between elections -> 2016 politicised the judiciary by calling judges “Enemies of the People” for ruling Parliament should vote to enact Article 50
• Significant - undermines democracy -> prioritising negative stories, thus breeding cynicism and apathy
• Significant - undermines democracy -> turns politicians into celebrities
• Not significant - 1979 “Crisis, what crisis?” -> opinion polls showed Callaghan still was popular
• Not significant - 1997 Sun switching allegiance from Cons to Labour -> simply reacting to an existing shift to Labour
• Not significant - Clegg’s victory at 2015 televised debate -> Lib Dems only increased vote by 1% nationally and actually lost seats
• Not significant - 2015 debate -> polls suggest the debate made no difference, just confirmed existing intentions
• Not significant - Facebook ads -> 2019, Lib Dems had 3000 ads yet lost seats
• Not significant - tabloid press more focussed on scandal and mocking politicians than providing information and informed debate
• Not significant - social media is a superficial level of participation, whilst the media which requires more interaction and engagement is less favoured
• Not significant - echo chambers in social media and press so readers read what reflects their views