Political Communications in New Zealand explores the relationship between politics, the media and voters in New Zealand.
Since communication is such a central component in the political process, it is important to understand the role that communication plays in this process.
- Who formulates the messages that political parties send to voters? Is it the professional political consultant and spin doctor?
- How are the messages sent directly or through the media?
- Does the media act merely as a neutral channel for party messages?
- Will new technology the web and e-mail allow parties to bypass the traditional media of television, radio and newspaper?
- What kind of information is communicated to the public? Is it trivial information about the personal appearance of politicians, particularly party leaders, and the blunders they make on the campaign trail, or is it substantive information about the policy stand of the party?
This book is in two parts. The first part examines how political parties conduct their election campaigns and how they make direct appeals to voters via their manifestos, television and newspaper advertising, and party websites. The second part of the book focuses on the role the media plays in mediating the messages that politicians seek to send to voters.
The contributors to this work (Raymond Miller, Matthew Gibbons, Janine Hayward, Chris Rudd, Claire Robinson, Liz Barker, Patrick Day, Sarah Sharp, Richard Kellett, Joe Atkinson, Stephen Church and Jack Vowles) offer a clear and concise analysis of the major issues surrounding political communications in New Zealand today. The book will be of particular interest to students of politics as well as those studying sociology and media studies. It will also be interesting for those who wish to know more about political campaigning and the media.
Contributors
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Chris Rudd and Janine Hayward
Part 1 Direct Political Communication
1 Parties and Electioneering, Raymond Miller
2 Election Programmes, Matthew Gibbons
3 Party Advertising in Newspapers, Janine Hayward and Chris Rudd
4 Televised Political Advertising, Claire Robinson
5 Party Websites, Liz Barker
Part 2 Mediated Political Communication
6 Broadcasting, Patrick Day
7 Newspapers, Sarah Sharp
8 Cartoons, Richard Kellett
9 Television, Joe Atkinson
10 Televised Leaders Debates, Stephen Church
Afterword: Do Campaigns Matter?, Jack Vowles
Appendices
1 Campaign funding, Patrick Day
2 The Heralds Most Frequently Reported Policy Issues 19462002, Sarah Sharp
3 Televised Leaders Debates, Stephen Church
Bibliography
Index