What sources of media do candidates use during their campaigns?

Answer 1

In the pre-radio days, candidates relied on the newspaper and on magazines. Films were silent, but at least one president (McKinley) appeared briefly in one. But the arrival of the electronic media really changed political campaigns by adding first sound and then visuals. From about 1922 on, candidates began to rely on radio. In the mid 1920s, Calvin Coolidge was one of the first presidents to be on the radio regularly, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 30s became known for his "Fireside Chats" on radio. When TV became popular in the early 1950s, candidates began to use it-- Dwight D. Eisenhower even recorded some TV campaign commercials; he looked very awkward by today's standards, but for that era, TV was still new and the candidates were just learning how best to get their message out to the voters. These days, most candidates use television extensively, whether to run attack ads or to get on a popular talk show and put forth their point of view. It is said that President John F. Kennedy was the first "TV president"-- the first president elected thanks to how he looked on television, back in 1960. Looking relaxed and speaking confidently on TV can contribute to the public's perception that you are a good candidate, just as back in the radio era, speaking in an articulate and interesting way meant people felt they knew you better and might vote for you. Critics may complain that "TV image" is somewhat contrived, but like it or not, it has become a part of campaigning. Of course, while TV is the most influential medium, it is not all that today's candidates use. Since we live in a multi-media universe, candidates will still go on radio (talk radio has been extremely influential) and increasingly, more are using the internet, whether to advertise on certain websites or leave comments on certain blogs.