Media Guiding Questions 

==“Horse-race coverage” and how does this affect the focus of a political campaign?==

• Horse-race coverage is a type of news coverage of presidential election campaigns in which the media treat the campaign as if it were a sporting event, generating excitement by focusing on who is ahead, who is making a comeback, and so on.
• This type of coverage has impacted how candidates are viewed and how campaigns are conducted, it has made it so much easier to gain exposure and become a serious candidate for major offices in case of a political unknown, or on the other hand, it attracts labor than can benefit or affect how much support a candidate can get.
• This coverage by the media can give a frontrunner label that can help the candidate to attract millions of dollars in loans and camping contributions as well as the volunteering needed to win.
• The negative connotation in the political campaign: as it shifts away the focus of the campaign itself and turns it into a popularity contest, it lowers the quality of the election since the population is focusing on the race rather on the issues that the candidates are arguing for.

==What is the difference between hard news reporting and commentary?:==

• The difference between hard news reporting and commentary?: the level of depth that goes into analyzing the causes and consequences of a political event that has affected the population.

• Hard news reporting is based on facts, they describe the political event at a local or a national level in the format of news, they don't analyze the event they just report what happened.

• While commentary provides an in-depth analysis of the event and its development, these articles seek to explain the significance of the event or why it was caused.

==How do the government use news releases and news briefings to communicate with the press and public?==

• The government uses news releases as a way of providing background information to the media, a story prepared by officials released to media that can serve as a type of broadcasting to express ideas or communications.
• They use news briefings to make announcements or explain policies, decisions, or actions, they provide a chance for reporters to follow up with questions about news releases or what they have developed in research.

==As noted in the final section of the reading, television news stations consider their audience when choosing what stories to cover. What problems can arise from relying on this type of reporting?==

• When television stations are deciding which topic they should cover they are highlighting the importance of the event over other problems, especially when it comes to attracting larger audiences that allow them to charge higher advertising rates.
• The problem?: due to the fact that they can prioritize news based on scandals or ratings rather than the seriousness of the matter in larger spheres.
• This can influence how the public ranks the importance of an issue to the nation, affecting the perception and follow-up of other matters.