What We Do
Since its founding in 2010, the Wesleyan Media Project (WMP) has become the “go to” source for real-time, non-partisan information on the volume, spending, sponsorship and content of political advertising across the United States.
Our goals are to track all election-related advertising by source (group, corporation, union, party, or candidate) and to provide comparative analysis enhancing the ability of journalists, citizens and scholars to hold governments and special interests accountable.
See our latest report here, or read our year-end summaries of campaign advertising in the 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016 elections.
Press Releases
Trump, Steyer Talk Impeachment in Ads
Groups Mention Impeachment Issue In House Races;Total Ad Spending Approaches $300 Million in Presidential Race (MIDDLETOWN, CT) December 19, 2019 – A new analysis from the Wesleyan Media Project in...TV Ad Volume Way Up Over 2016
Outside Groups Largely Absent (MIDDLETOWN, CT) November 20, 2019 – A new analysis from the Wesleyan Media Project shows that $20.5 million has been spent on television advertising by candidates...Trump Launches Attack Ad Blitz and Steyer Covers Airwaves
Digital Spending at $84.6 Million in Presidential Race (MIDDLETOWN, CT) October 24, 2019 – Television ad spending by presidential candidates has ramped up over the past six weeks, according to...
Team & Partners
Who we are
The Wesleyan Media Project is directed by Professors Erika Franklin Fowler, Michael M. Franz and Travis N. Ridout. The Project Manager is Laura Baum. An outstanding group of students from all three institutions support the project through various activities.
Read MoreThe Data
Press releases
We track all broadcast advertisements aired in presidential, congressional and many lower-level campaigns in real-time. During election years, we regularly post press releases detailing the content, volume and estimated cost of political advertisements.
Read MoreWMP News
News from the project
Check out the latest from our blog featuring a variety of content related to media and advertising analyses including project updates, short commentaries, summaries, links to interesting research and occasional guest posts.
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