A political scientist compiled the following data on the evening news coverage of a major network during the final month of a presidential election campaign:
| Focus of News Segment | Percentage of Coverage Time |
|---|---|
| Analysis of candidate standings in national and state polls | 58% |
| Profiles of candidate policy proposals and platform details | 18% |
| Reports on candidate fundraising totals and advertising spending | 14% |
| Investigations into candidate past business dealings and ethics | 10% |
Based on the table, which of the following roles of the news media is most clearly demonstrated by the network's coverage?
- Scorekeeper, by focusing primarily on tracking which candidate is leading in the race.Answer
- BAgenda setter, by using the presidential bully pulpit to force Congress to pass election reform laws.
- CPolitical party, by directly mobilizing voters and organizing campaign rallies for the candidates.
- DWatchdog, by evaluating the scientific reliability and margin of error of the public opinion polls.
Answer
Scorekeeper, by focusing primarily on tracking which candidate is leading in the race.
The correct answer is correct because horse-race journalism (the scorekeeper role) focuses on who is winning and losing, typically by reporting on public opinion polls. In the table, 58% of the coverage is dedicated to candidate standings in the polls, which is the largest category of coverage.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
The scorekeeper role of the media (horse-race journalism)
Estimated Time:45s