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2018 ElectionsReleases

Gun References in Campaign Advertising on the Rise

12 percent of ads in 2018 election cycle contain a gun reference; Most are pro-gun rights, but will Parkland be a turning point? For our March 2018 election report, click here. (MIDDLETOWN, CT) March 15, 2018 - As a national conversation about gun policy in the United States reaches the White House, the Wesleyan Media Project provides a detailed look at references to guns in campaign advertising over time. As shown in Figure 1, the volume and percentage of gun references in advertising mentioning federal or gubernatorial candidates has been increasing since the 2012 election cycle. More specifically, references to…
Wesleyan Media Project
March 15, 2018
Releases

With Only 45 Days to Spread the Word, Health Insurance Advertising Spikes

(MIDDLETOWN, CT) December 13, 2017 - The deadline for the fifth open enrollment period of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is just two days away. With a slashed federal advertising budget, fewer days to sign up, and evidence linking ad volume to enrollment uptake, reports of higher than expected enrollment so far this year are somewhat puzzling. A new report by the Wesleyan Media Project shows that the volume of television advertising during the first 37 days of the open enrollment period (from November 1 to December 7) is actually up 51 percent over the same time window last year…
Wesleyan Media Project
December 13, 2017
Donald Trump doing a jig with crowd in the background
2018 ElectionsReleases

Trump & Culture War Featured in 2017 Gov Advertising

Photo Gage Skidmore/Flickr NJ & VA see more pro-Democratic advertising on television (MIDDLETOWN, CT) November 6, 2017 - As Election Day approaches, the gubernatorial races to replace New Jersey’s Chris Christie and Virginia’s Terry McAuliffe are heading into the final push. Democratic candidates for governor in both New Jersey and Virginia have an edge in the televised air war. As shown in Table 1, TV advertising in Virginia is particularly heated, up 37 percent over the race in 2013, while New Jersey has seen fewer ads, primarily due to less advertising on the Republican side. Table 1: Volume of Gubernatorial…
Wesleyan Media Project
November 6, 2017
Releases

As Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment Begins,
Evidence on How Ads Matter

(MIDDLETOWN, CT) November 1, 2017 - Earlier this year, the Trump Administration announced drastic cuts to the advertising and outreach budget for the 2018 individual health insurance marketplace open enrollment period that begins today. More specifically, the advertising budget for plans available through healthcare.gov was cut 90 percent (from $100 million to $10 million) and the in-person outreach budget was reduced by 41 percent, which collectively result in a 72 percent reduction in marketing and outreach efforts for the federal marketplace. In addition, the enrollment window for all plans available through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is only 45 days…
Wesleyan Media Project
November 1, 2017