The Impact Of Media In Canadian Elections

The Impact of Media in Canadian Elections Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation Email Address Date Abstract The Impact of Media in Canadian Elections Media power in Canada is saturated among a few corporations which control 90% of the country’s newspaper circulation and cable television. The degree to which organizations are allowed to exercise their “Right to Know” has been tactically managed by the federal government, enabling the Canadian parliament to execute its business in privacy. The impact of the media has gradually eroded the culture of political aspirants engaging voters directly in campaigns by stage managing broadcasts to target audiences. Technological engagement of voters on platforms such as social media, government regulation, and public diligence have collectively established control of the media’s influence in elections. Keywords: Democratic process, Government regulation, Voter engagement, Media responsibility The media plays a critical role in shaping political ideologies, public participation and deciding the public agenda at any given time. Such control in the public opinion emanates from the critical role of journalistic ventures to disseminate information, raise awareness, investigate and expose controversy and educating, and mobilizing audiences in participation in civic activities such as the electoral process. In Canada, the media houses have undergone a transformation from high regulation and censorship in the 19th century. The political class dictated that only information that would not jeopardize the governments and politicians’ agendas would be broadcasted. The great concern on the messages circulated by media houses, then was informed by the recognition of the power of media houses in establishing behavioral trends, attitudes and their audience’s political opinions. Additionally, the media plays an important role in the correlation of communal challenges and opportunities with government strategies and policies in response. Canadian voters rely on mainstream media, particularly newspapers, radio, and television to find out about their political parties, leaders, public policy and party politics. Thus, the Canadian media act as an essential link between the voters and their political parties, leaders and the government (Nesbitt-Larking 2010, 50). As established, the media in Canada also contribute to the formulation of a public opinion, exposing corruption, and holding political leaders accountable in public opinion. Consequently, the media contribute in identifying the issues the public is concerned about. By doing so, the media sensitize the voters on issues which should be addressed and the different political parties’ policies in addressing the identified challenges. The voters consequently make their decision on where to vote based on the perceptions of different parties and leaders created in the media. Further, the media in Canada play a critical role in, soliciting for public support for the successful implementation public, civic functions (Doris 2005, 570). However, the role of the media in politics and the profit interests of the media houses has often contradicted raising concerns to what extent the media has had influence on government functions including e...