RE: Introduction Questions

[Jennifer Stromer-Galley <jstromer@asc.upenn.edu>]

The issue of the role of money in politics is of great interest to me. As a researcher of political communication, I am constantly attending to the messages candidates and political figures provide to citizens and the role of the media in framing candidate discourse. 

In studying politics and political communication, it became quickly clear to me that the role of money in the campaign process is key. 

Candidates spend incredible energy raising money. I am sure the candidates on this discussion can give better illustrations, but I have heard that candidates, even incumbents, must spend half of every day raising money for the race for federal office. 

Where does all this money go? Campaign advertising.

Why? Because the research suggests that because many people don't pay much attention to politics, the way to attract people to vote and to vote for you is through campaign ads in paid media (this is particularly true for federal offices, such as Senator or Representative or President). 

Why is it so expensive to run advertisements on TV? Because the network affiliates (i.e. the local networks) charge a large chunk of change to let candidates (and any people who desire to advertise) have access to their airwaves.

But, there's a problem: the airwaves are publicly owned and leased to network affiliates through licenses. 

I strongly believe that requiring broadcasters to open the airwaves to candidates for free would go along way to helping solve the quest for the campaign contribution. If candidates were able to receive free air time, in 30 second or half hour increments, they would no longer have to raise the incredible amounts of money they currently need in order to gain access to the airwaves, which are by their very nature public.

~~Jen