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 Spends Big on TV Ads While Biden Holds Back
Senate Ads Spike; Eight Races See 10,000 Spots since May (MIDDLETOWN, CT) July 2, 2020 – A new analysis from the Wesleyan Media Project, in partnership with the Center for...Maine, North Carolina Top Senate Races
TV Ad Volumes Similar to Past Years (MIDDLETOWN, CT) May 14, 2020 – A new analysis from the Wesleyan Media Project, in partnership with the Center for Responsive Politics, shows...Presidential, House Ads Slow to Trickle
Senate Ads Still Airing;Nine Percent of Federal Ads on TV Mention Coronavirus (MIDDLETOWN, CT) April 9, 2020 – Television advertising in the presidential race has slowed to a trickle in...
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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