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# Wesleyan Media Project

WMP

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## Posts

- [Latest](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/latest/)
- [Midterm Ad Discussion Revolves Around Trump](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/release-061826/) - Photo Gage Skidmore/flickr Trump Mentioned in 55% of Congressional TV Airings; Over 70% of Spots from GOP House and Senate Candidates Mention the President (MIDDLETOWN, CT) June 18, 2026 – The 2026 midterm election is all about Donald Trump, as advertisers from both parties frequently feature the president in their campaign ads. Indeed, 55 percent of
- [Past Two Weeks Sees $210 Million in Ad Spending; $20 Million Spent on AI Ads This Cycle](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-052826/) - Cycle-to-date Total Approaches $2 Billion (MIDDLETOWN, CT) May 28, 2026 – Ad spending in congressional and gubernatorial campaigns over the past two weeks topped $210 million, elevating spending this cycle in those races to just under $2 billion. Moreover, in a new line of analysis, the Wesleyan Media Project (WMP) has identified at least $19.7
- [Ad spending totals $700 million in the past two months, reaching $1.7 billion cycle-to-date](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-051426/) - Nearly 30 percent of ad spending to-date is via streaming (MIDDLETOWN, CT) May 14, 2026 – Spending on campaign advertising in the 2025-2026 midterm election cycle in House, Senate and gubernatorial races has totaled $700 million in just the past two months, thanks, in part, to some extremely competitive primary campaigns (Table 1). The totals
- [Midterm political ad spending reaches $565 million](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-030526/) - Groups account for over 60 percent of spending (MIDDLETOWN, CT) March 5, 2026 – Spending on political advertising in the 2026 races for U.S. House and U.S. Senate has reached $565 million cycle-to-date, ahead of the first round of party primaries this week. The total – which includes spending from January 1, 2025, through March
- [Advertising Tone Spotlight (9/1/24-11/5/24)](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/tone-nov24/) - (MIDDLETOWN, CT) January 7, 2026 – The Wesleyan Media Project is releasing the first Advertising Tone Spotlight. Below, we show the count of tone by sponsor during the general election period. This post covers tone by adtype (candidates, parties, issue-election, and private citizens) aired on broadcast TV in U.S. House, U.S. Senate, and Presidential races
- [New Studies Published on Television and Digital Advertising in the 2024 Elections](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/2024-summary-062425/) - (MIDDLETOWN, CT) June 24, 2025 – New research published by the Wesleyan Media Project provides two summaries of political advertising activity in the 2024 U.S. elections. The two pieces appear in the latest issue of The Forum: A Journal of Applied Research in Contemporary Politics and are both freely available through open access. The first
- [Cross-Platform Election Advertising Transparency Initiative (CREATIVE) Research Published](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/cross-platform-election-advertising-transparency-initiative-creative-research-published/) - (MIDDLETOWN, CT) June 24, 2025 – New research published from the Wesleyan Media Project (WMP) in collaboration with Privacy Tech Lab at Wesleyan University describes a new cross-platform digital advertising dataset. The data cover federal election activity from the 2022 midterm general election period for Meta and Google. Published in Scientific Data and funded in
- [Dark Money on TV in the 2024 Elections](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/dark-money-on-tv-in-the-2024-elections/) - (MIDDLETOWN, CT) March 14, 2025 – The Wesleyan Media Project (WMP) has examined the sponsorship of advertising on television in federal races during the 2023-24 election cycle. In this report, the WMP is focusing on advertising by outside groups, looking specifically at different group types. In partnership with OpenSecrets, the Wesleyan Media Project classifies groups
- [Advertising Issue Spotlight (1/1/24 – 5/31/24)](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/issues-may24/) - (MIDDLETOWN, CT) June 5, 2024 – The Wesleyan Media Project is releasing the first post in a series of regularly updated overviews of issue mentions in federal races by state. Below we show the percentage of ads mentioning seven key issues tracked by the WMP (abortion, energy/environment, guns, health care, immigration, inflation, public safety). The
- [Advertising Issue Spotlight (6/1/24 – 8/31/24)](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/issues-aug24/) - (MIDDLETOWN, CT) September 19, 2024 – The Wesleyan Media Project is releasing the second post in a series of regularly updated overviews of issue mentions in federal races by state. Below we show the percentage of ads mentioning eight key issues tracked by the WMP (abortion, energy/environment, guns, health care, housing, immigration, inflation, public safety).
- [Advertising Issue Spotlight (9/1/24 – 9/30/24)](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/issues-sept24/) - (MIDDLETOWN, CT) October 3, 2024 – The Wesleyan Media Project is releasing the third post in a series of regularly updated overviews of issue mentions in federal races by state. Below, we show the percentage of ads mentioning eight key issues tracked by the WMP (abortion, energy/environment, guns, health care, housing, immigration, inflation, public safety).
- [Presidential Advertising Issue Spotlight (7/22/24 – 10/15/24)](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/issues-oct24/) - (MIDDLETOWN, CT) October 17, 2024 – The Wesleyan Media Project is releasing the fourth post in a series of regularly updated overviews of issue mentions, this time focusing on the presidential race by media market. Below, we show the percentage of ads mentioning eight key issues tracked by the WMP (abortion, energy/environment, guns, health care,
- [Harris TV Ads Plummet Before Rebounding](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-102424/) - Nearly $300 Million in Presidential Ad Spending Across Platforms Over Past Two Weeks (MIDDLETOWN, CT) October 24, 2024 – During the past two weeks, pro-Trump ads outnumbered pro-Harris ads on broadcast television by about 10,000 airings, according to a new report from the Wesleyan Media Project. Table 1 shows that pro-Trump ads numbered about 71,000
- [More Than $4.5 Billion in Ad Spending This Cycle](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-103124/) - Trump and Harris Even in TV Ad Spots This Past Week (MIDDLETOWN, CT) October 31, 2024 – In its final pre-election analysis, the Wesleyan Media Project has examined ad spending for the entire election cycle back to January 2023. We identify nearly $4.5 billion in television and radio advertising in federal and gubernatorial campaigns, which
- [New report details at least $600 million in digital ad spending this cycle](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/reports-101624/) - Donors hard or impossible to track in up to half of the ad spending A new report from the Wesleyan Media Project, the Brennan Center and OpenSecrets sheds light on the scope of online ad spending this election cycle on the two largest online platforms, Google and Meta. Among the report’s key findings are: In
- [Trump Narrows Harris’ Ad Advantage in Past Week](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-101024/) - Photo Gage Skidmore/flickr But Harris Still Has Large Ad Advantages, especially on Digital (MIDDLETOWN, CT) October 10, 2024 – According to a new report from the Wesleyan Media Project, about 71,000 pro-Harris ads have run on broadcast television over the past two weeks, substantially more than the 51,000 pro-Trump ads that have run during the
- [Pro-Trump TV Ads Plummet in Past Two Weeks as Harris Expands Ad Advantage Across Platforms](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-092624/) - Photo Gage Skidmore/flickr Harris Campaign Outspending Trump on Meta 16:1 and on Google by Nearly 3:1 (MIDDLETOWN, CT) September 26, 2024 – According to a new analysis from the Wesleyan Media Project that focuses on ad spending over the last two weeks, Vice President Kamala Harris maintains a significant advertising advantage over Donald Trump thanks
- [Presidential Campaign Turns to Economic Issues](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-091224/) - Democratic, Republican TV Ads Almost Equal in Number but Harris Outspending Trump by Nearly 3:1 on Meta and Google (MIDDLETOWN, CT) September 12, 2024 – The issue discussion in the presidential race has shifted to a focus on the economy, according to a new report from the Wesleyan Media Project that analyzes issue mentions in
- [Trump and Allies Launch Barrage of Negative Ads](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-082924/) - Photo Gage Skidmore/flickr 95 percent of pro-Trump ads attack Harris (MIDDLETOWN, CT) August 29, 2024 – In recent weeks, former President Donald Trump and his interest group allies have ramped up their spending on broadcast television ads, on many days out-advertising Kamala Harris and her interest group allies. Figure 1 shows the volume of pro-Trump
- [Trump Out-Airing Harris in Early Restart of General Election](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-081424/) - Photo Gage Skidmore/Flickr Harris focused on wide range of issues, while Trump camp goes hard on immigration and public safety (MIDDLETOWN, CT) August 15, 2024 – The general election is in full swing, as both pro-Harris and pro-Trump ads are on the air in battleground states. In previous analyses, the Wesleyan Media Project reported that
- [Biden campaign TV ad spending steady since debate; pro-Biden group spending drops](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-071624/) - Little Pro-Trump Advertising (MIDDLETOWN, CT) July 16, 2024 – The Biden campaign maintained a relatively steady level of television ad spending in the two weeks following the debate (ending July 10), but pro-Biden group spending declined, according to an analysis by the Wesleyan Media Project. The Biden campaign (including coordinated spending with the DNC) spent
- [2016 Election Study Published](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/2016-election-study-published/) - Wesleyan Media Project shares lessons, analysis from 2016 election cycle (MIDDLETOWN, CT) March 6, 2017 - The 2016 presidential campaign broke the mold when it comes to patterns of political advertising. But, in a new publication, the Wesleyan Media Project directors say “Not so fast” to those who argue that advertising no longer matters
- [Eschewing policy in advertising? Lessons from 2016](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-2016personalpolicy/) - Photo: Lorie Shaull (MIDDLETOWN, CT) February 25, 2020 – Michael Bloomberg’s recent political ad, which portrays Donald Trump as a bully, has prompted discussion on social media about the effectiveness of personal versus policy attacks. Many of these discussions invoked a Wesleyan Media Project analysis from 2016 published in The Forum. In this research, we
- [Digital Ad Spending Nearly Even with TV in Presidential General Election](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-053124/) - Biden Campaign Spends Heavily on Digital Ads (MIDDLETOWN, CT) May 31, 2024 – Since March 6, spending in the general election phase of the presidential race has been almost evenly split between television ads on local broadcast and national cable television and spending on digital ads on the Meta and Google platforms, according to a
- [Biden on TV in Key States, While Trump is Off-Air](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-052324/) - Trump Backed by Groups but is Still Out-Aired 2:1 (MIDDLETOWN, CT) May 23, 2024 – Advertising for the presidential general election has started, with about $25 million spent to-date on local broadcast and national television since March 6, the day both Joe Biden and Donald Trump had effectively secured their respective parties’ nominations. The bulk
- [Presidential General Election Ad Spending Tops $1.5 Billion](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-102920/) - Photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr Pro-Dem Ad Advantages Up and Down the Ballot;Republican Airings More Negative Report Highlights President Biden and Trump spending by medium (Table 1) Top TV spenders in the presidential race (Table 2) Digital spending by Trump and Biden (Table 3) TV Spending by media market (Table 4, Figure 1, and compared to
- [U.S. Senate and U.S. House Advertising Spikes as Presidential Ads Wane](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-031424/) - Record-Breaking Volume of Congressional Campaign Ads on TV, an Increase of 28% Over 2022 (MIDDLETOWN, CT) March 14, 2024 – Advertising in the presidential race has turned to a trickle as Joe Biden and Donald Trump have all-but-secured their parties’ nominations for president, but House and Senate races have seen record volumes of advertising. As
- [New Analysis of 2022 Midterm Advertising Published](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/new-analysis-of-2022-midterm-advertising-published/) - (MIDDLETOWN, CT) February 27, 2023 – New research utilizing Wesleyan Media Project data yields new insights on the polarization of 2022 midterm messaging between the parties in discussions of race as compared to discussions of gender. The new analysis, described by the Collaborative on Media and Messaging (COMM) for Health and Social Policy, builds on
- [New Studies Published on Television and Digital Advertising in the 2022 Midterms](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/2022-summary-022223/) - (MIDDLETOWN, CT) February 22, 2023 – New research published by the Wesleyan Media Project provides two summaries of political advertising activity in the 2022 midterms. The two pieces appear in the latest issue of The Forum: A Journal of Applied Research in Contemporary Politics and are both freely available through open access. The first examines
- [Advertising in Presidential Race Takes a Nosedive after New Hampshire](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-021624/) - Trump, Biden Give Little Attention to South Carolina (MIDDLETOWN, CT) February 16, 2024 – The volume of television advertising in the 2024 presidential race has fallen dramatically since the January 23 New Hampshire primary. In the weeks since New Hampshire, candidates and the groups and parties supporting them have spent only $2.6 million on under
- [Heavy Spending by GOP in Iowa, including Trump](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-011124/) - Photo Gage Skidmore/flickr GOP candidates get significant backing from super PACs (MIDDLETOWN, CT) January 11, 2024 – Donald Trump may not be at the Republican presidential debates, but he is not conceding the airwaves in Iowa or New Hampshire, a new analysis from the Wesleyan Media Project shows. Trump’s campaign, along with the Make America
- [Political Advertising in Presidential Elections: Assessing the Battleground](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/political-advertising-in-presidential-elections-assessing-the-battleground/) - (MIDDLETOWN, CT) October 25, 2023 – The Presidential election in 2024 is nearly one year away, and it is useful to speculate on how many television ads we might see in the coming campaign. Are digital ads squeezing out the appetite for television ads? Is the battleground more narrow today than in prior years, perhaps
- [Advertising Issue Spotlight (9/5/22 – 11/08/22)](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/issues-nov22/) - (MIDDLETOWN, CT) February 21, 2023 – The Wesleyan Media Project is releasing the final post in a series of regularly updated overviews of issue mentions in federal races by state. Below we show the percentage of ads mentioning seven key issues tracked by the WMP (abortion, energy/environment, guns, health care, immigration, inflation, public safety). Individual
- [4.3M TV Ads with Spending Nearing $3B](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-110322/) - Photo Gage Skidmore/flickr Pro-Republican Outside Groups Airing More Ads than Republican Candidates (MIDDLETOWN, CT) November 3, 2022 – An estimated $2.71 billion has been spent in federal and gubernatorial races on broadcast television advertising this election cycle, according to a new analysis by the Wesleyan Media Project. That represents 4.3 million ad airings so far
- [Advertising Issue Spotlight (10/1/22 – 10/31/22)](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/issues-oct22/) - (MIDDLETOWN, CT) November 2, 2022 – The Wesleyan Media Project is releasing the third post in a series of regularly updated overviews of issue mentions in federal races by state. Below we show the percentage of ads mentioning seven key issues tracked by the WMP (abortion, energy/environment, guns, health care, immigration, inflation, public safety). The
- [Advertising Issue Spotlight (9/1/22 – 9/30/22)](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/issues-sept22/) - (MIDDLETOWN, CT) October 4, 2022 – The Wesleyan Media Project is releasing the second post in a series of regularly updated overviews of issue mentions in federal races by state. Below we show the percentage of ads mentioning seven key issues tracked by the WMP (abortion, energy/environment, guns, health care, immigration, inflation, public safety). The
- [Congressional Leadership Fund Targets 42 House Races](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-102022/) - Photo Gage Skidmore/flickr Dem Ad Volume Higher Overall; Record Breaking Number of Federal Ads by Groups (MIDDLETOWN, CT) October 20, 2022 – Outside group advertising on television in federal races is breaking records, according to a new analysis by the Wesleyan Media Project. In just the last two weeks alone, the Republican super PAC, Congressional
- [Advertising Issue Spotlight (8/1/22 – 8/31/22)](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/issues-aug22/) - (MIDDLETOWN, CT) September 16, 2022 – The Wesleyan Media Project is releasing the first post in a series of regularly updated overviews of issue mentions in federal races by state. Below we show the percentage of ads mentioning seven key issues tracked by the WMP (abortion, energy/environment, guns, health care, immigration, inflation, public safety). The
- [Democrats Out-Pacing GOP in Senate Races](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-100622/) - Groups are bolstering Republicans in Senate campaigns; Dems also have ad advantages in many House Races (MIDDLETOWN, CT) October 6, 2022 – Democrats are out-airing their Republican opponents in nine of the top 10 Senates races, according to a new report from the Wesleyan Media Project. While the air war is very balanced in the
- [TV Ad Volume Nearly Doubles Over Prior Midterm Cycle](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/june-2018/) - Photo Gage Skidmore/Flickr Dark Money Up 26% over 2014; Over $40M in California for House, Senate, and Governor June 7, 2018 Report Highlights • Over 1 million ads (nearly $375 M) in congressional and gov races since Jan. 1, 2017 (Table 3) • Midterm ad volumes overall have nearly doubled over the previous midterm cycle
- [GOP Praise Trump at Record Rates](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/aug-2018/) - Both Republican and Democratic Ads Mention the President; In Two Decades of Midterms, Only GWB After 9/11 Comes Close in Positive References (MIDDLETOWN, CT) August 1, 2018 - Members of a president’s party often avoid mentions of the president during a midterm election year, but 2018 is proving to be an exception, according to an
- [Trump & Culture War Featured in 2017 Gov Advertising](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/nov-gov-2017/) - 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
- [Republicans Running Against Nancy Pelosi? <br>Just A Bit](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/apr-2018-leaders/) - Photo Gage Skidmore/Flickr Pelosi is the Most Targeted Congressional Leader in the Past Three Cycles (MIDDLETOWN, CT) April 9, 2018, with updates through June 4, 2018 – Along with many other aspects of campaign advertising, the Wesleyan Media Project has tracked mentions of prominent party leaders in political ads. More specifically, we have tracked references
- [Republicans – Men and Women – Continue to Embrace Trump in Their Ads](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/091318/) - Photo Gage Skidmore/Flickr Women candidates more positive; Democratic women laser focused on health (MIDDLETOWN, CT) September 13, 2018 – Pro-Trump messaging in political ads continued through August. Almost 36,000 ad airings in U.S. House and U.S. Senate races mentioned Donald Trump in a positive fashion between August 1 and September 3, which is 13.4 percent
- [Outside Group Ads Up 85% in Federal Races](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/092018/) - Photo Gage Skidmore/Flickr Over 2.2 Million Ads Aired This Cycle; Post-Labor Day Period Slightly Less Negative than 2014 (MIDDLETOWN, CT) September 20, 2018 – In the two weeks following Labor Day – traditionally the start of the general election campaign – the volume of television advertising in 2018 was well above the volume in 2014,
- [TX Senate Race Draws Millions in Digital Ad Spending](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/101818-digital/) - Photo Gage Skidmore/Flickr O’Rourke leads all candidates with over $5.5 million in digital ads; Politicians hint at presidential runs with digital spending (MIDDLETOWN, CT) October 18, 2018 – The Wesleyan Media Project’s latest analysis compares television ad spending with digital ad spending in Senate campaigns and competitive House races. Television estimates come from Kantar/CMAG, Facebook
- [61% Increase in Volume of Negative Ads](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/103018/) - Photo Gage Skidmore/Flickr Record-Breaking Number of Ads; More Democratic Dark Money (MIDDLETOWN, CT) October 30, 2018 – As we reach the final week of the 2018 midterm election, an analysis by the Wesleyan Media Project finds that television advertising in federal races is setting new records in volume—and in the volume of negative ads, thanks
- [Trump, Immigration More Common in GOP Digital](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/110118-digital/) - 10% of Dems Digital Ads Mention ACA and Republican Health Bills; Robert Mueller a non-Issue (MIDDLETOWN, CT) November 1, 2018 - The Wesleyan Media Project has previously reported on digital spending in federal races this cycle. In this report, we show the frequency of issue mentions in TV and Facebook ads for the general election
- [Gun References in Campaign Advertising on the Rise](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/mar-guns-2018/) - 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
- [Illinois Governor Race Most Expensive of 2018 So Far](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/mar-2018/) - Groups Start Spending in Indiana, Missouri, Wisconsin Senate Races March 15, 2018 Report Highlights • IL Gov race most expensive • Outside groups in Senate races -- IN, MO, WI top charts • PA-18 saw over 8,000 ad airings • 4 in 5 ads from House & Senate candidates have been positive • See our
- [TV Ad Volume Up 89 Percent Over 2014](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/may-2018/) - Outside groups, mostly dark money, account for 1 in every 3 ads in House and Senate races May 7, 2018 Report Highlights • 2014 vs. 2018 midterm ad airing comparisons (Table 1) • Ad volumes/spending in statewide races with primaries May 8, 15, and 22 (Table 2 and Table 3) • Gov races see the
- [Mentions of Trump Common in Facebook Advertising](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/aug-2018-facebook/) - But a Comparison of FB and TV Suggests the Emphasis from Senate Candidates is Different Across Platforms (MIDDLETOWN, CT) August 1, 2018 - Mentions of Donald Trump are quite common in Facebook advertising from many Senate candidates, according to a new analysis. The Wesleyan Media Project is pleased to provide our first comparison (and we
- [Digital Spending in Senate Races Varies](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/091318-digital/) - O’Rourke campaign largest digital spender by far; At least $4 million on digital ad spending in tight Senate races (MIDDLETOWN, CT) September 13, 2018 - Though campaigns still spend the majority of their ad dollars on television advertising, digital advertising has become an increasingly important component of campaigns’ ad strategies. The Wesleyan Media Project’s latest
- [Half of Senate Ads Negative in Past Month](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/100418/) - GOP Candidates More Negative than Democrats (MIDDLETOWN, CT) October 4, 2018 - A new analysis from the Wesleyan Media Project (WMP) shows that half of the ads airing in the past month in U.S. Senate races were pure negative ads—their focus was attacking an opponent (Table 1). Only 30 percent were positive ads that focused
- [More Dark Money Ads Than Any of the Past Four Cycles](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/110118-tv/) - (MIDDLETOWN, CT) November 1, 2018 - In partnership with the Center for Responsive Politics, the Wesleyan Media Project reports that although the proportion of dark money ads airing this year is not record-breaking, the number of dark money advertisements on television is at a four cycle high. As shown in Table 1, 243,652 dark money
- [Advertising Issue Spotlight (through 7/31/18)](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/issues-aug-2018/) - (MIDDLETOWN, CT) August 29, 2018 - The Wesleyan Media Project is releasing the first post in a series of regularly updated overviews of issue mentions in federal races by state. Below we show the number of ads that aired in House and Senate races from January 1, 2017 to July 31, 2018. We break down
- [Advertising Issue Spotlight (8/1/18 – 8/31/18)](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/issues-090618/) - (MIDDLETOWN, CT) September 6, 2018 - The Wesleyan Media Project is releasing its second post in a series of regularly updated overviews of issue mentions in federal races by state. Below we show the number of ads that aired in House and Senate races in each state from August 1, 2018, to August 31, 2018.
- [Advertising Issue Spotlight (9/1/18 – 9/30/18)](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/issues-100418/) - (MIDDLETOWN, CT) October 4, 2018 - The Wesleyan Media Project is releasing its third post in a series of regularly updated overviews of issue mentions in federal races by state. Below we show the number of ads that aired in House and Senate races in each state from September 1, 2018, to September 30, 2018.
- [Advertising Issue Spotlight (10/1/18 – 10/31/18)](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/issues-110518/) - (MIDDLETOWN, CT) November 5, 2018 - The Wesleyan Media Project is releasing its fourth post in a series of regularly updated overviews of issue mentions in federal races by state and an interactive visual display of issue discussion from the four main issues featured in our issue spotlights. In both the figure and the table,
- [2022 Midterm TV Ad Volume Off to a Record Start](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-062322/) - Photo Gage Skidmore/Flickr Outside Groups Airing a Third of All Ads; Spotlight on Abortion, Immigration, and Guns (MIDDLETOWN, CT) June 23, 2022 – Driven by competitive primaries for U.S. Senate seats and gubernatorial races, the volume of advertising on television so far in the 2022 midterms is shattering records, according to a new report by
- [Biden Continues to Dominate Advertising](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-101520/) - TV Shatters Records, Dems Lead Ad War in All Top Senate Races Report Highlights President Top TV spenders in the presidential race (Table 1) Digital spending by Trump and Biden (Table 2) Compare geographic spend on TV (Figure 1) and Facebook (Figure 3) Tone of presidential TV ads (Figures 6 and 7) US Senate
- [Two Million TV Ads So Far in the 2022 Midterm Elections](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-081122/) - Photo Gage Skidmore/Flickr Dems talk abortion, while GOP looks to change the narrative; Outside Groups Invest Heavily (MIDDLETOWN, CT) August 11, 2022 – Over two million ads (at a cost of nearly one billion dollars) have aired on broadcast television in federal and gubernatorial races across the country between January 6, 2021, and August 7,
- [DeSantis Dominates FL Gov Advertising](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-092222/) - Photo Gage Skidmore/Flickr Record Negativity in 2022 General Election So Far; Tight Ad Race in WI Senate While Dems Lead in AZ and GA (MIDDLETOWN, CT) – September 22, 2022 – As the traditional general election period of the 2022 midterms kicks into gear, Republican incumbent Ron DeSantis has a commanding lead over his Democratic
- [Democrats Spend Heavily in Senate Races](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-090822/) - Photo Moussa81/iStock Digital spending significant in Senate races; Abortion is still a top issue for Democrats in House and Gubernatorial races (MIDDLETOWN, CT) – September 8, 2022 – Democratic candidates are spending heavily on broadcast television advertising in U.S. Senate races, according to a new report from the Wesleyan Media Project. In fact, as Table
- [Abortion Mentions Climb After SCOTUS Draft Opinion](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-051222/) - 25 Percent of Pro-Republican House Ads in Past Week Mention Abortion (MIDDLETOWN, CT) May 12, 2022 – Mentions of abortion in televised political advertising have risen in the wake of the leaked draft of the Supreme Court opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade, according to a new analysis by the Wesleyan Media Project. The increase was especially pronounced in races for the U.S. House, where prior to May 3, 6.2 percent of pro-Democratic ads and 13.5 percent of pro-Republican ads mentioned the issue (Table 1). Since that day, 22 percent of pro-Democratic ads and 24.5 percent of pro-Republican ads have mentioned abortion. Increases in the frequency of abortion mentions are also evident in pro-Democratic Senate and gubernatorial ads and in pro-Republican gubernatorial ads. “Clearly, the country’s attention has turned to abortion rights, and we’re seeing the shift in political advertising as well,” said Travis Ridout, co-director of the Wesleyan Media Project. “Abortion is an issue that not only separates Democrats and Republicans, but the issue could matter in primary races as well.”
- [WMP Joins Proposal for Universal Digital Ad Transparency Standard](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/wmp-joins-proposal-for-universal-digital-ad-transparency-standard/) - Photo: anyaberkut/iStock (MIDDLETOWN, CT) December 9, 2021 – Given the rapid recent growth in spending on political advertising online (at least 25 percent of 2020 presidential spending) and the challenges that the current ad libraries pose for research and for accountability in elections, the Wesleyan Media Project (WMP) proposes a new universal transparency standard for
- [Updated Book on Political Advertising Released](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/updated-book-on-political-advertising-released/) - The second edition of Political Advertising in the United States, written by the Wesleyan Media Project’s co-directors, has been released. The book, by Erika Franklin Fowler, Michael M. Franz and Travis N. Ridout, examines the volume, distribution, content, and effects of political advertising in congressional and presidential elections. The book considers the role of television
- [WMP Submits Comments to Federal Election Commission](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/102221-fec-comment/) - WMP Submits Comments to Federal Election Commission about Enhanced Reporting of Campaign Spending The FEC is considering a new rule on how campaign committees report spending by contractors and consultants. WMP co-director Michael Franz submitted comments in support of the new regulation, arguing that existing rules make it hard to track ad spending on digital
- [WMP/CRP Special Report <br>Outside Group Activity, 2000-2016](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/disclosure-report/) - Image: OpenSecrets Super PACs dominate 2016; “Dark Money” a consistent but growing presence since 2000; Outside Groups at all-time high in share of ads aired; most groups active in only one election cycle August 24, 2016 (MIDDLETOWN, CT) August 24, 2016 – A new historical analysis of political advertising data by the Wesleyan Media Project, in
- [Voice and Inequality in Political Campaigns](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/voice-and-inequality-in-political-campaigns/) - This summary, by Kathleen Searles, is based on new research just published in the journal Political Communication Is Don Draper Making Political Ads? -- AMC’s popular period drama, “Mad Men,” is set in a fictional 1960s advertising agency where ad executives attempt to sell happiness to America’s beleaguered housewives. While a lot has changed
- [Four Key Lessons from 2018 Political Ads](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/120318/) - Photo: Luke Harold/Flickr (MIDDLETOWN, CT) December 3, 2018 – 2018 was a record-breaking year for campaign ads. WMP co-directors – Erika Franklin Fowler, Michael Franz and Travis Ridout – highlight four key lessons from 2018 political advertising in a piece for The Conversation. Read it here.
- [Latest WMP Research](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/latest-wmp-research/) - Photo: John Brighenti/Flickr 2018 Political Advertising Year-end Summary Published in PS (MIDDLETOWN, CT) September 27, 2019 -- New research published in PS by Erika Franklin Fowler, Michael M. Franz and Travis N. Ridout, co-directors of the Wesleyan Media Project, offers a post-mortem on political advertising in 2018, providing important context for that year’s “blue wave” in which Democrats picked
- [Trump Launches Attack Ad Blitz and Steyer Covers Airwaves](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-102419/) - Photo: Jim Watson/AFP 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 a new analysis by the Wesleyan Media Project. Presidential candidates have spent over $22 million on television ads since September 12 (Table
- [Trump, Steyer Talk Impeachment in Ads](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-121919/) - Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images 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 partnership with the Center for Responsive Politics shows that impeachment is largely absent from discussion in paid presidential television ads—with
- [$44 Million on Presidential Ads in Iowa](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-012920/) - Photo: Rick Wilking/Reuters Self-funded billionaires drive ad spending up 131% over 2016 (MIDDLETOWN, CT) January 29, 2020 – A new analysis from the Wesleyan Media Project shows that over $44 million has been spent on 122,815 broadcast television presidential ads in Iowa, which holds the nation’s first caucus on Monday, February 3 (Table 1).
- [As NH Primary Nears, TV Ad Spending Tops $430 Million Nationally](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-020520/) - Photo: Phil Roeder/Flickr Presidential Digital Ad Spending Nearly $200 Million (MIDDLETOWN, CT) February 5, 2020 – New Hampshire voters will be casting presidential primary ballots in less than a week, and one candidate is dominating the airwaves: Tom Steyer. A new analysis from the Wesleyan Media Project shows that of the roughly $33 million in
- [Presidential Ad Spending Approaches $900 Million](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-022620/) - Photo: Mike Bloomberg Campaign Bloomberg Ad Spending Unprecedented, Tops Previous General Election Candidate Spending (MIDDLETOWN, CT) February 26, 2020 – A new analysis from the Wesleyan Media Project has identified $617 million in spending on television ads in the presidential race, while digital spending in the presidential race has soared to about $260
- [Ad Spending Ramps Up in Florida, Illinois, Ohio](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-031120/) - Photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr More than $1 Billion Spent in Democratic Nomination Campaign, 30% on Digital (MIDDLETOWN, CT) March 11, 2020 – Voters in four states with large numbers of delegates (Arizona, Florida, Illinois and Ohio) will cast presidential primary ballots on March 17. Spending on television ads in these states during the past
- [Presidential, House Ads Slow to Trickle](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-040920/) - Photo: Joe Biden Campaign 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 the past couple of weeks just prior to Bernie Sanders suspending his campaign and ending the 2020 Democratic nomination
- [Maine, North Carolina Top Senate Races](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-051420/) - Photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr 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 that advertising in U.S. Senate races is heating up. Maine has the most intense Senate race in the country so
- [Trump Spends Big on TV Ads While Biden Holds Back](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-070220/) - Photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr 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 Responsive Politics, shows that Donald Trump has ramped up his TV ad spending. Through the entire cycle to-date, President Trump has
- [Why Is Digital Advertising So Hard to Track?](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/why-is-digital-advertising-so-hard-to-track/) - Photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr (MIDDLETOWN, CT) August 7, 2020 – Since 2010, the Wesleyan Media Project (WMP) has tracked political advertising on television, but the project only started providing data on digital advertising in 2018—and those numbers carry with them several caveats. Why is it so hard to track digital advertising? 1. The major social media
- [Trump Focuses on Crime While Biden Talks COVID, Business, Economy](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-081220/) - Photo: Joe Biden Campaign Presidential Ad War Tightens as Biden Closes the Gap on TV; Trump Continues to Dominate Digital (MIDDLETOWN, CT) August 12, 2020 – A new analysis from the Wesleyan Media Project, in partnership with the Center for Responsive Politics, shows a presidential race that is fairly balanced when it comes to
- [Ad Volumes in Congressional Races Smash Records](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-081320/) - Photo: John Brighenti/Flickr Senate Ads Up 170 Percent; House Ads Up 104 Percent (MIDDLETOWN, CT) August 13, 2020 – The year 2020 is shaping up to be a banner year for television advertising with huge increases in volume and (to a lesser extent) spending in U.S. House and U.S. Senate races. Since January 1,
- [Calculating Reported Spending on Facebook Advertising](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/calculating-reported-spending-on-facebook-advertising/) - Photo: WOCinTech Chat/Flickr (MIDDLETOWN, CT) September 1, 2020 – With Facebook online ads making up a large part of political advertising, the Wesleyan Media Project (WMP) strives to use the Facebook data in its reporting on campaign spending. To do this, WMP uses the Facebook spending reports that are posted on the Facebook Ad Library
- [TV Ads Favor Biden 2:1 in Last Month](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-090920/) - Photo: Becker1999/Flickr Record Breaking Volume of US House and US Senate Airings (MIDDLETOWN, CT) September 9, 2020 – A new analysis from the Wesleyan Media Project, in partnership with the Center for Responsive Politics, shows that pro-Biden television ads have dominated the presidential race in the past month. Since August 10, Joe Biden and
- [Trump Shifts Focus From Crime to Jobs](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-091720/) - Photo: Thru_the_Glass/Flickr Jobs, Business, Taxes Top Trump Issues in TV Ads; Biden Focuses on Virus (MIDDLETOWN, CT) September 17, 2020 – A new analysis from the Wesleyan Media Project finds that, at least on television, Donald Trump’s advertising has shifted away from his almost exclusive focus on crime and protests (as highlighted in our
- [Dems Dominate Ad Spending Up and Down Ballot](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-100120/) - Photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr Biden up big in ad war,overtakes Trump in recent digital spend Report Highlights President Top TV spenders in the presidential race (Table 1) Biden overtakes Trump in digital advertising (Table 2) Pro-Biden ads outnumber pro-Trump ads in all top media markets (Table 3) Map of presidential candidate TV ad airings (Figure
- [Record Shattering 2020 Ad Volumes](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-102120/) - Photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr Phoenix Top Media Market Cycle-to-Date (MIDDLETOWN, CT) October 21, 2020 – A new brief report from the Wesleyan Media Project finds record levels of television advertising in the 2020 campaigns. Over 4.9 million ads have aired in federal races (House, Senate and president) on broadcast and national cable television since January
- [Political Ads in 2020: Fast and Furious](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/2020-summary-032321/) - Photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr WMP Publishes End-of-Cycle Report (MIDDLETOWN, CT) March 23, 2021 – New research published by the Wesleyan Media Project co-directors in The Forum: A Journal of Applied Research in Contemporary Politics (gated) provides a post-mortem on the fast and furious political advertising in the 2020 cycle. Our analysis of the volume and spending on political
- [New WMP Research Sheds Light on Political Ads Online](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/blog-032321/) - Campaigns’ Facebook Ad Use Depends on Timing, Goals Political ad campaigns on Facebook are not necessarily comparable to political ad campaigns on television, argues a newly-published article from the Wesleyan Media Project’s co-directors. In a manuscript titled, “The Influence of Goals and Timing: How Campaigns Deploy Ads on Facebook,” which appears in the Journal of
- [2020 Digital Spending Update](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/2020-digital-spending-update/) - Trump Bets on Online Spending;Warren, Biden, Harris Top Democratic Spenders; Men Seeing More Online Presidential Ads (MIDDLETOWN, CT) June 6, 2019 - In this early part of the 2020 election season, Donald Trump has spent vastly more on digital ads than his Democratic rivals, according to an analysis by the Wesleyan Media Project. Since
- [Digital Spending Dominates in Early 2020 Presidential Race](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-091919/) - Candidates Have Spent $61 Million on Facebook and Google and Just $11 Million on TV (MIDDLETOWN, CT) September 19, 2019 – Spending by presidential contenders on ads on Facebook and Google has reached $60.9 million this year, according to a new analysis by the Wesleyan Media Project. Those same candidates have spent about $11.4 million
- [Why We Should Care About Dark Money Ads](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/why-we-should-care-about-dark-money-ads/) - As part of our ongoing focus on interest group advertising and dark money in elections, we are pleased to welcome our first guest post by Conor Dowling (University of Mississippi) and Amber Wichowsky (Marquette University). Total outside group spending in federal elections with no disclosure of donors saw a 60-fold increase between 2006 ($5.17
- [Tracking Political Ads in Smaller Media Markets](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/discovery-markets/) - Some districts harder to track than others, but not many competitive races are affected (MIDDLETOWN, CT) July 24, 2019 - The Wesleyan Media Project obtains ad data from Kantar Media/CMAG, which represents the most comprehensive and systematic collection on the content and targeting of political advertisements. There is, however, one feature of Kantar’s data that
- [2018: The Health Care Election](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/101818-tv/) - Democrats hold huge ad advantages in federal races; Ad volume cycle-to-date up 60 percent over 2014 (MIDDLETOWN, CT) October 18, 2018 - It’s official: the 2018 midterms are about health care. In the period between September 18 and October 15, nearly half (45.9 percent) of airings in federal races mentioned the topic while nearly a
- [Reducing the effectiveness of group-sponsored advertising through disclosure](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/political-ad-disclosure/) - This post from Travis N. Ridout was first published at The Blue Review, a journal of popular scholarship in the public interest at Boise State University. Click here for the original post. It used to be that candidates paid for most of the political ads that aired on their behalf. If they were involved
- [What Matters With Negativity is Timing](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/what-matters-with-negativity-is-timing/) - There is a lot of talk about negativity in elections, and as measured by Wesleyan Media Project (and Wisconsin Advertising Project) coding, there is much more of it on the airwaves than there was a decade ago. Yanna Krupnikov (Stony Brook University) writes for us on the effects of negativity and why timing is everything.
- [The Book is Here!](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/the-book-is-here/) - It’s out! Get WMP’s new comprehensive analysis assessing political advertising in the United States.
- [With Only 45 Days to Spread the Word, Health Insurance Advertising Spikes](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/dec-2017/) - (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
- [Economy Dominates; Wall Street, Health Care and Obama Prominent Themes in 2010 Federal Advertising](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/2010-themes/) - Partisan Division: Dems Attack Wall Street and Wall Street Experience GOP (and especially IGs) Go After Health Care and Obama (MIDDLETOWN, CT) Oct. 25, 2010 -- In the battle for control of Congress, economic references are far and away the most prominent theme mentioned in both Democratic and Republican advertising. In particular, jobs are receiving the lion’s
- [TV Ad Volume Way Up Over 2016](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-112019/) - 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 in the presidential race since October 20 (Table 1). Making their first ad buys this past month were Elizabeth Warren, Andrew Yang, and Steve
- [As Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment Begins, <br>Evidence on How Ads Matter](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/nov-2017/) - (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
- [2016 Post-Election Conference](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/2016-post-election-conference/) - On December 4 & 5 the Wesleyan Media Project and Department of Government co-hosted a 2016 post-election conference featuring more than 20 prominent political scientists, non-partisan experts and PBS NewsHour Correspondent John Yang ’80. Details on the panels and topics are below. Monday's panels were live streamed. We have posted a selection of presentations and papers
- [Clinton Crushes Trump 3:1 in Air War](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/nov-2016/) - Clinton also dominates local cable, which Trump has largely ignored Over 3.3M airings in 2016 Cycle; Nearly $600 million in ads for Senate races November 3, 2016 Report Highlights President • Clinton crushes Trump 3:1 on air (Table 1) • Presidential volume comparison from the last two weeks (Table A1) • NEW: WMP reports local
- [Over 2 Million Political Ads Aired This Cycle](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/aug-2016/) - Group Activity in Senate Contests at All-Time High; Democrats Advantaged in Competitive Senate Races; Super PACs Heavily Involved August 24, 2016 Report Highlights • Presidential and Senate ads heavily out-numbering ads in other races • Outside group ad airings in Senate races are at an all-time high • Ad spending higher than 2012: Dems sponsor
- [Presidential Ad Volumes Less than Half of 2012](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/oct-2016/) - Clinton Maintains Huge Advantage Over Trump Trump Campaign Running Positive Ads; Dems Hold Ad Advantage in Many Senate Races October 18, 2016 Report Highlights • Clinton ads out-air Trump ads more than 3:1 (Table 1) • Group ads still favor Clinton campaign (Table 2) • Pres ads this cycle more positive than the last 4
- [Pro-Clinton Ads Continue to Dominate Airwaves](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/sept-2016/) - Parties, Republican Groups Staying Out of Presidential Race, but Trump Advertising at Same Pace as Romney in 2012; Senate Advertising Heats Up: Outside Group Activity Continues to Break Records; Third of Group Ads are Dark Money September 20, 2016 Report Highlights • Pro-Clinton ads dominating in most markets (Figures 1 & 2) • Party ads
- [Advertising Volume Up 122% Over 2012 Levels; <br>Spending in Presidential Race Over $400 million](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/ad-spending-over-400-million/) - Presidential Advertising Largely Positive; Dark Money Flooding Senate Contests May 12, 2016 Report Highlights • Advertising volume compared to 2008 and 2012 • GOP pres. candidates relying more on outside groups • Top outside group sponsors • Milwaukee, Hartford, Indianapolis saw most ads since March 15 • Super PACs pay for over 90% of GOP
- [GOP Groups Keeping Senate Contests Close](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/gop-groups-keeping-senate-contests-close/) - Republicans Have Ad Advantage in Iowa, Kentucky Senate Races; Dems Ahead in Michigan, Louisiana (MIDDLETOWN, CT) September 30, 2014 – Two weeks ago, the Wesleyan Media Project reported that Democrats had dominated advertising in the most competitive Senate races in the first part of September. But over the past two weeks, Republicans have built
- [Ad spending in 2014 elections poised to break $1 billion](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/ad-spending-in-2014-elections-poised-to-break-1-billion/) - Democrats Hold Slight Lead in Senate Advertising; Interest Groups Account for 40 Percent Senate Airings This Cycle, All-time High (MIDDLETOWN, CT) October 14, 2014 – Just three weeks out from Election Day 2014, Democrats hold a very slight advantage in the most competitive Senate races. In 10 of the 15 Senate races with the
- [Ad Spending Tops $1 Billion](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/ad-spending-tops-1-billion/) - Ad Spending Tops $1 Billion, Yet Ad Volume is Down From the Last Midterm Election Over 600,000 Ads Sponsored by Groups; Almost 40 Percent Dark Money (MIDDLETOWN, CT) October 29, 2014 – Spending on television ads in federal and gubernatorial races in the 2013-14 election cycle has now topped $1 billion, with an estimated
- [2014 Election Studies Published](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/2014-election-studies-published/) - Evidence about the Involvement and Influence of Interest Group Advertising (MIDDLETOWN, CT) February 6, 2015 – Two comprehensive studies of the campaign ad trends from the 2014 election have been published by the researchers from the Wesleyan Media Project, in addition to a piece on disclosure and campaign ads. "Political Advertising in 2014: The Year
- [Over $219M spent on advertising in U.S. Senate and U.S. House races since Jan. 1](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/over-219m-spent-on-advertising-in-us-senate-and-us-house-races-since-jan-1/) - Candidate and Interest Group Ad Volume, Spending Up Dramatically Over 2008; Party Spending Down; IGs Spending Over $100 Million in Federal & Gov Races (MIDDLETOWN, CT) Sept. 27, 2010 – As of Sept. 15, an estimated $220 million has been spent on political advertising in races for Congress, greatly exceeding the roughly $135 million spent in
- [U.S. House and U.S. Senate advertising spending approaches $200M in last five weeks, $367M total since Jan 1](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/spending-on-u-s-house-and-u-s-senate-advertising-approaches-200m-in-last-five-weeks-367m-total-since-jan-1/) - Influx of Spending Indicates House is the True Battleground; IGs Spending Over $65 Million in Federal & Gov Races (MIDDLETOWN, CT) Oct. 13, 2010 – An estimated $198M has been spent on advertising in U.S. Senate and U.S. House races in the five weeks between 9/1 and 10/7. With September as the traditional start to the
- [Negative Ads Prominent, Increasing in Number,  but 2010 No More Negative than Previous Election Year](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/release3/) - Tone of Ads on the Airwaves in Top Races Keeps Pace with 2008; Interest Groups Doing Heavy Lifting in Terms of Attacks (MIDDLETOWN, CT) Oct. 14, 2010 -- The battle for control of Congress and key gubernatorial positions are filling the airwaves with negativity. Just under half of the ads aired so far this year were
- [Gubernatorial Advertising Up Dramatically This Year](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/gov-ad-update/) - Overall Volume is Double 2006 Level; Outside Group Advertising Has Tripled; California, Florida, Wisconsin, Ohio Inundated by Ads (MIDDLETOWN, CT) Oct. 21, 2010 – The volume of advertising in the 37 states holding gubernatorial races this November is up dramatically over the volume of advertising aired up to this point in 2006. A Wesleyan Media
- [Negativity Update: 2010 Features Similar Rates of Negativity, But Dems More Likely to Attack Personally](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/negativity-update/) - Dems and Reps are Similar in Proportion of Negative Ads, but Dem Strategy Likely Driven by Desire to Draw Attention Away from the Policy Environment (MIDDLETOWN, CT) Oct. 26, 2010 -- As we reported last week, “claims that 2010 is the most negative election to date may be premature. In an analysis of close to 900,000
- [An Uptick in Negativity: Last Few Weeks Provide Confirmation – 2010 Campaign Most Negative in Recent History](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/an-uptick-in-negativity/) - Republicans Using Pure Attack Ads More Often; Dem Attack Ads Still More Personal (MIDDLETOWN, CT) Nov. 1, 2010 – In just the last few weeks a large uptick in negative ads has pushed this year from one that was no more negative than 2008 to the most negative campaign in recent history by both sides. In
- [Outside Group Involvement in GOP Contest Skyrockets Compared to 2008](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/group-involvement-skyrockets/) - Romney Advertising Dominates in Florida; General Election Advertising Sets Furious Pace (MIDDLETOWN, CT) Jan. 30, 2012 – The overall number of GOP presidential ads on the airwaves this election year is comparable with 2008, but who is paying for them so far has changed significantly. The influence of SuperPACs in the race for the 2012
- [Presidential Ads 70 Percent Negative in 2012, Up from 9 Percent in 2008](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/jump-in-negativity-2/) - Super PACs Sponsor Bulk of Presidential Ads; Obama, Crossroads GPS Battle in Same States (MIDDLETOWN, CT) May 2, 2012 – The 2012 presidential race is shaping up to be an overwhelmingly negative one, much more negative than the 2008 contest to date. As Table 1 shows, 7 out of 10 of the ads aired in this
- [Obama's 'Convention Bounce' May Actually be an Ad Bounce](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/convention-or-ad-bounce/) - Pro-Obama Advertisers Had Over 2 to 1 Advantage in Last Two Weeks; Romney Heavily Reliant on Outside Groups; Negative Ads Up Sharply from 2008 (MIDDLETOWN, CT) Sept. 12, 2012 – Although the Romney campaign has (until recently) dominated the money race, the Obama campaign dominated the broadcast airwaves in the two weeks during the presidential conventions.
- [Presidential Ad War Tops 1M Airings](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/presidential-ad-war-tops-1m-airings/) - Pro-Romney Ads Cut into Obama Advantage in Last Week of Oct; Obama campaign outspends Romney campaign 2.6:1 on ads in the general election period; Republican outside groups make up the difference for Romney (MIDDLETOWN, CT) Nov. 2, 2012 – As the 2012 campaign comes to a close, the number of ads aired in the presidential
- [2012 Election Studies Published](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/project-update/) - 2012 Campaign Advertising Volume Crushed Previous Records; Interest Group and Dark Money Analyses in the Works (MIDDLETOWN, CT) Feb. 14, 2013 – Two comprehensive studies of the campaign ad trends from the 2012 election have been published by the researchers from the Wesleyan Media Project. “Negative, Angry, and Ubiquitous: Political Advertising in 2012” by Erika
- [Heated Battle for U.S. Senate Draws Deluge of Outside Group Ads, Most Are Dark Money](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/heated-battle-for-u-s-senate-draws-deluge-of-outside-group-ads-most-are-dark-money/) - Groups Responsible for Majority of GOP Ads; Huge Republican Ad Advantage in House Races Disappears in August (MIDDLETOWN, CT) September 4, 2014 – With prognosticators giving even odds that Republicans will take over the U.S. Senate after this November’s elections, outside groups are taking notice. Almost 52 percent of ads aired in favor of Republican
- [2014 General Election Advertising Opens Even More Negative than 2010 or 2012](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/2014-general-election-advertising-opens-even-more-negative-than-2010-or-2012/) - Dems Hold Advantages in Air War in Senate and House; GOP Airs More Ads in Gubernatorial Races (MIDDLETOWN, CT) September 16, 2014 – In the past two weeks, advertising in federal and gubernatorial races has not only increased in volume compared to the same period in 2010, but is more negative as well. Democratic advertising has
- [Clinton and Sanders Even in Ad War, <br>Cruz and Rubio Gain on Bush in S. Carolina](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/update-on-nv-and-sc-contests/) - Outside Group Ads Continue to Flood Airwaves in Record Numbers, Republican Ads Attack Rubio, Rubio Attacks Clinton February 18, 2016 Report Highlights • Clinton, Sanders, Bush most ads this cycle • South Carolina ad leaders • Nevada ad leaders • GOP ad spending nearly triples from 2012 • Comparing GOP and Dem ad volume and
- [Super PACs Dominate Airwaves](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/super-pacs-dominate-airwaves/) - Outside Spending Groups Air Over 80 Percent of Ads in GOP Primaries, Almost All are Sponsored by Super PACs; Big gaps between advertising and polls: Pro-Bush ads more than double nearest GOP rival, Pro-Cruz ads are rare and Trump noticeably absent, Dark money fueling Rubio December 15, 2015 Report Highlights • Ad volume in 2015
- [2010 Campaign Ad Studies Published](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/2010-final-release/) - (MIDDLETOWN, CT) Jan. 11, 2011 -- Two comprehensive studies of the campaign ad trends from the 2010 election have been published by the researchers from The Wesleyan Media Project. “Advertising Trends in 2010” (click here for a local copy), by Erika Franklin Fowler of Wesleyan University and Travis Ridout of Washington State University, and “The Citizens United
- [Knight Foundation provides $45,000 <br>in new support](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/2016-knight-grant/) - Election campaign advertising by outside groups continues to break records; Knight Foundation provides $45,000 in new support to Wesleyan Media Project to promote more transparency in elections MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – Feb. 18, 2016 – Interest group involvement in television advertising is breaking records in the presidential primary, the Wesleyan Media Project reports today in its
- [Obama Dominates Advertising in Key States](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/obama-dominates-ads-in-key-states/) - President Holds Advantage in 14 of 15 Top Markets; Only 7.8 Percent of Presidential Ads Positive; FCC electronic disclosure leaves out more than 50% of federal ads (MIDDLETOWN, CT) Oct. 3, 2012 – In the three-week period since the parties’ national conventions, Barack Obama and his party and interest group allies have continued to dominate
- [2012 Shatters 2004 and 2008 Records for Total Ads Aired](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/2012-shatters-2004-and-2008-records-for-total-ads-aired/) - Over 900,000 Ads Aired in Presidential General Election Race; Over 210,000 Ads since October 1; President Continues to Hold Ad Advantage in Key Markets; Independent Groups and Obama Campaign Most Likely to Use Pure Attack Ads (MIDDLETOWN, CT) Oct. 24, 2012 – Over 915,000 presidential ads have been aired on broadcast and national cable television
- [Interest Group Advertising Pours Into Senate Races](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/interest-group-advertising-pours-into-senate-races/) - Two-thirds of Senate GOP and Nearly Half of Dem Advertising Sponsored by Outside Groups; Almost 60 percent of Group Spending is Undisclosed Dark Money (MIDDLETOWN, CT) April 29, 2014 – With control of the U.S. Senate at stake, advertising in senatorial races is off to an early start, with 109,701 airings at an estimated $43.1
- [Sunlight Foundation Grant](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/sunlightgrant/) - Wesleyan Media Project receives Sunlight Foundation grant.
- [Wesleyan Media Project Launches<br> New Website on Attack Ads](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/wesleyan-media-project-launches-new-website-on-attack-ads/) - (MIDDLETOWN, CT) October 29, 2014 – Interest group advertising in U.S. Senate campaigns is at an all-time high, and advertising from dark money groups is breaking records. America’s airwaves are filled with much more negativity than they were a decade ago. AttackAds.org, a new initiative from the Wesleyan Media Project, launches today. The initiative, made
- [Welcome to the new WMP blog! ](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/welcome-to-the-new-wmp-blog/) - Loyal visitors to our website may know that Mike Franz, Travis Ridout and I haven’t always limited ourselves to real-time updates on advertising though that has been our primary activity for the last four years. As academics, however, we do much more than real-time advertising analysis, and like other blogs before us, we believe that we
- [Project brings 2012 campaign spenders to light](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/2012-project/) - Complete with new data on the Florida primary, The Wesleyan Media Project Monday will release its first analysis of campaign ads for 2012.
- [Media Focus on Campaign Ad Strategy Amplifies Feeling of Negativity](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/ad-tone-perceptions/) - Positive advertising matters as much if not more than negativity (MIDDLETOWN, CT) Mar 14, 2012 -- In the midst of perhaps the most negative presidential primary race in recent history, a new Wesleyan Media Project affiliated study (click here for an older local copy) published by Political Research Quarterly suggests that the tone of ads on
- [Microtargeting: Not Just for Online Ads](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/microtargeting-not-just-for-online-ads/) - The New York Times featured an article today on the increasing number of campaigns that are tailoring their advertising messages to different demographics over the internet. This tactic – frequently referred to as microtargeting – is not confined to online placements of campaign ads. In a newly published study appearing in Political Communication, two Wesleyan
- [Ad Spending in Federal and Gubernatorial Races in 2010 Eclipses $1 Billion; $250M in Last Two Weeks Alone](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/spending-update/) - Spending by outside groups up to $120 million since September 1 (MIDDLETOWN, CT) Oct. 27, 2010 -- As of October 20, spending on advertising in U.S. Senate, House and gubernatorial races has eclipsed $1 billion, a historic figure by any measure. Almost $620 million of that spending has been since September 1, and $250 million was in
- [A Brief Word on 'Magic' Words](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/magic-word-update/) - We took a quick look at magic word usage by interest groups in House and Senate races in 2008 and 2010 (1/1-10/5 in both cases). The short story is that magic words are used far more often this year in House races (1 in every 3 IG ads, compared to 1 in 10 in 2008)
- [Wesleyan Media Project Launched](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/wesleyan-media-project-launched/) - Offers comprehensive, non-partisan tracking and analysis of major political ads (MIDDLETOWN, CT) Sept. 23, 2010 -- Wesleyan University is launching a non-partisan initiative designed to perform comprehensive tracking and analysis of federal and state political advertisements by candidates, parties and special interest groups. The project launches at the onset of a political election season poised to

## Pages

- [Home](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/) - Midterm Ad Discussion Revolves Around Trump(6/18/26) The 2026 midterm election is all about Donald Trump, as advertisers from both parties frequently feature the president in their campaign ads. Indeed, 55 percent of broadcast TV ad airings across candidate and outside group sponsors in U.S. House and Senate races since January 1 of last year
- [Team](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/about/team-2/) - The Wesleyan Media Project is directed by Professors Erika Franklin Fowler (Wesleyan University), Michael M. Franz (Bowdoin College) and Travis N. Ridout (Washington State University). Breeze Floyd is Program Manager. An outstanding group of students from all three institutions support the project through ad coding, data management, and other activities. Directors Professor of Government, Wesleyan
- [Data Access](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/dataaccess/) - The Wesleyan Media Project (WMP) is pleased to provide scholarly access to Vivvix/CMAG (formerly Kantar Media/CMAG) tracking data and video files covering all broadcast television political advertising from the 210 media markets in the United States. Wesleyan Media Project coding is also available for all federal and gubernatorial airings that have been publicly released. To
- [Project Background](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/about/project-background/) - What We Do The Wesleyan Media Project was established in 2010 to track advertising in federal elections, and it is a successor to the Wisconsin Advertising Project, which tracked political advertising between 1998 and 2008. The Project is a collaboration among Professors Erika Franklin Fowler (Wesleyan University), Michael M. Franz (Bowdoin College) and Travis N.
- [2024 Post-Election Conference](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/2024-conference/)
- [Data Access – 2016](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/dataaccess/data-access-2016/) - Download 2016 Data Download the WMP 2016 Codebook (PDF) Download the variable matrix, which shows the variables available in each data set [table id=396 /] Other WMP data sets 2006 -- Buy now or view (existing users) 2010 -- Buy now or view (existing users) 2012 non-presidential -- Buy now or view (existing users) 2012 presidential
- [Data Access - 2018](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/dataaccess/data-access-2018/) - Download 2018 Data Download the WMP 2018 Codebook (PDF) Download the variable matrix, which shows the variables available in each data set [table id=541 /] Other WMP data sets 2006 -- Buy now or view (existing users) 2010 -- Buy now or view (existing users) 2012 non-presidential -- Buy now or view (existing users) 2012 presidential
- [About](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/about/) - WMP REACH Political Advertising The Wesleyan Media Project tracks and analyzes advertising by federal and gubernatorial candidates in real-time during elections. Health Media Research The WMP team and collaborators investigate how media, including ads and news, influence opinions and attitudes in a variety of health-policy areas including the Affordable Care Act. WMP @ Wesleyan Transparency and
- [Data Access - 2010](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/dataaccess/data-access-2010/) - Download 2010 Data Download the 2010 WMP Codebook (PDF) Download the ReadMe file documenting updates (updated 4/20/2018) Download the variable matrix, which shows the variables available in each data set [table id=180 /] Other WMP data sets 2006 -- Buy now or view (existing users) 2012 non-presidential -- Buy now or view (existing users) 2012
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- [Data Access - Population Health in Ads 2012 and 2016](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/dataaccess/population-health-ads-2012-and-2016/) - Download Population Health Messaging in Political Ads 2012 & 2016 Data These data were used in the following publication: Fowler, E.F., L.M. Baum, E. Jesch, D. Haddad, C. Reyes, S.E. Gollust, and J. Niederdeppe. 2019. Issues Relevant to Population Health Messaging in Political Advertising in the United States, 2011–2012 and 2015–2016. Milbank Quarterly 97 (4):
- [Health Insurance Ads 2013-2018](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/dataaccess/health-insurance-ads-2013-2018/) - Health Insurance Advertising Data 2013-2018 Download the Codebook (PDF) [table id=542 /] Other WMP data sets 2006 -- Buy now or view (existing users) 2010 -- Buy now or view (existing users) 2012 non-presidential -- Buy now or view (existing users) 2012 presidential -- Buy now or view (existing users) 2014 -- Buy now or view
- [Data Access - 2012](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/dataaccess/data-access-2012/) - Download 2012 Data Download the WMP Codebook (PDF) Download the ReadMe file documenting updates (updated 9/23/2016) Download the variable matrix, which shows the variables available in each data set [table id=179 /] Other WMP data sets 2006 -- Buy now or view (existing users) 2010 -- Buy now or view (existing users) 2012 presidential --
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- [Data Access - 2006](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/dataaccess/data-access-2006/) - Download 2006 Data Download the WMP 2006 Codebook (PDF) Download the variable matrix, which shows the variables available in each data set [table id=265 /] Other WMP data sets 2010 -- Buy now or view (existing users) 2012 non-presidential -- Buy now or view (existing users) 2012 presidential -- Buy now or view (existing users) 2014
- [Data Access - 2014](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/dataaccess/data-access-2014/) - Download 2014 Data Download the WMP 2014 Codebook (PDF) Download the ReadMe file documenting updates (updated 6/2/2017) Download the variable matrix, which shows the variables available in each data set [table id=81 /] Other WMP data sets 2006 -- Buy now or view (existing users) 2010 -- Buy now or view (existing users) 2012 non-presidential --
- [Data Access - 2016 Presidential](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/dataaccess/data-access-2016-presidential/) - Download 2016 Presidential Data Download the WMP 2016 Presidential Codebook (PDF) Download the variable matrix, which shows the variables available in each data set [table id=540 /] Other WMP data sets 2006 -- Buy now or view (existing users) 2010 -- Buy now or view (existing users) 2012 non-presidential -- Buy now or view (existing users)
- [Data Access - 2012 Presidential](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/dataaccess/data-access-2012-presidential/) - Download Data Download the WMP 2012 Presidential codebook Download the ReadMe file documenting updates (updated 4/20/2018) Download the variable matrix, which shows the variables available in each data set [table id=260 /] Other WMP data sets 2006 -- Buy now or view (existing users) 2010 -- Buy now or view (existing users) 2012 non-presidential -- Buy
- [Membership Levels](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/membership-account/membership-levels/) - NEW USERS: Please complete the sign-up below to create an account with the Wesleyan Media Project. After creating your account, you will receive instructions on how to pay for the data ($20 per data set). RETURNING USERS: Please go to paypal.me/wesmediaproject to pay for the data ($20 per data set). You will receive an email
- [Membership Confirmation](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/membership-account/membership-confirmation/) - Thank you for creating an account with the Wesleyan Media Project. Each data set you are requesting costs $20. Please complete your payment via PayPal here: paypal.me/wesmediaproject. Once that goes through and your identity as a member of an academic institution is verified, you will receive an email from the Wesleyan Media Project with instructions
- [WMP Login](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/wmp-login/) - Log In Username or Email Address Password Remember Me Show Password Lost Password?
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- [Health media research](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/health-media/) - In 2013, the Wesleyan Media Project expanded its reach into the realm of health policy analysis with a study examining media coverage accompanying the Fall 2013 rollout of the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance marketplace. Health Media Research Results from a first-cut analysis of news and advertising content were published in the Journal of Health Politics, Policy
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- [](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/wesleyan-media-project/) - The Wesleyan Media Project’s website is undergoing an upgrade. We will be back soon and apologize for any inconvenience. In the meantime, check out WMP’s Delta Lab, a computationally-driven testing ground carrying out new and innovative analyses of political advertising and media with student learning as a central focus. Highlights from our last release are also
- [Releases](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases/) - By Wesleyan Media Project In 2026 Elections Midterm Ad Discussion Revolves Around Trump Read Article By Wesleyan Media Project In 2026 Elections Past Two Weeks Sees $210 Million in Ad Spending; $20 Million Spent on AI Ads This Cycle Read Article By Wesleyan Media Project In 2026 Elections Ad spending totals $700 million in the
- [Blog](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/blog/) - By Wesleyan Media Project In 2024 Elections New Studies Published on Television and Digital Advertising in the 2024 Elections Read Article By Wesleyan Media Project In Blog New Analysis of 2022 Midterm Advertising Published Read Article By Wesleyan Media Project In Blog Political Advertising in Presidential Elections: Assessing the Battleground Read Article New Studies Published
- [Coverage](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/coverage/) - The Wesleyan Media Project provides the only comprehensive numbers on how much outside groups are spending on television advertising in the full election cycle—and the content of that advertising. As a result, the Project is an invaluable source for journalists trying to track ad airings and spending. In the 2016 election cycle the Wesleyan Media Project
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- [Data Access - 2012 Video](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/data-access-2012-video/) - Steps for Downloading 2012 Ad Video Note that there are nearly 2,000 .wmv files and they will require significant time to download, depending on your Internet speed. Please follow the steps below to download the full set of files to your computer/server. This page is not meant to be used to stream individual ads. -If
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- [Ad spending in 2014 elections poised to break $1 billion: Figure 1 Senate data](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/ad-spending-in-2014-elections-figure-1-senate-data/) - October 14, 2014 Return to the release "Ad spending in 2014 elections..." Figure 1: Advertising Balance in U.S. Senate Races (Sept 26-October 9) [table id=39 /]
- [Ad spending in 2014 elections poised to break $1 billion: Figure 1 House data](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/ad-spending-in-2014-elections-poised-to-break-1-billion-figure-1-house-data/) - October 14, 2014 Return to the release "Ad spending in 2014 elections..." Figure 1: Advertising Balance in U.S. House Races (Sept 26-October 9) [table id=38 /]
- [Ad Spending Tops $1 Billion: Table A2](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases/2014-release-6-table-a2/) - October 29, 2014 Return to the release "Ad Spending Tops $1 Billion" Table A2: Volume and Estimated Cost of Advertising in US Gubernatorial Races by Sponsor [table id=20 /]
- [Ad Spending Tops $1 Billion: Table A1](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases/2014-release-6-table-a1/) - October 29, 2014 Return to the release "Ad Spending Tops $1 Billion" Table A1: Volume and Estimated Cost of Advertising in US Senate Races by Sponsor [table id=19 /]
- [Data Access - 2010 Video](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/dataaccess/data-access-2010-video/) - Steps for Downloading 2010 Ad Video Note that there are nearly 11,800 .wmv files (approximately 20 GB) and they will require significant time to download, depending on your Internet speed. Please follow the steps below to download the full set of files to your computer/server. This page is not meant to be used to stream individual ads.
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- [Terms of Service](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/dataaccess/terms-of-service/) - The Wesleyan Media Project is pleased to provide scholarly access to Kantar Media/CMAG tracking and video (and in some cases pdf) data covering all broadcast political advertising from the 210 media markets in the United States. Wesleyan Media Project coding is also available for all federal and gubernatorial airings that have been publicly released. To
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- [Category 3](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/portfolio/portfolio-3/category-3/)
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- [Conference Participants](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/events-4/conference-participants/) - Wesleyan Media Project Co-Directors Erika Franklin Fowler (Assistant Professor, Wesleyan University) Erika Franklin Fowler (Ph.D., University of Wisconsin – Madison) is assistant professor of government at Wesleyan University where she directs the Wesleyan Media Project. Fowler specializes in political communication - local media and campaign advertising in particular - and her work on local
- [Events](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/events-4/) - Conference Campaign Finance, Political Communication, and the 2012 Elections November 30, 2012 Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT Video of conference panels is available on iTunes U Participant Bios Agenda 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM: Panel 1: Advertising: Tone, Trends and Effects Charles Mahtesian, Politico (Moderator) Wesleyan Media Project team John Geer, Vanderbilt University Richard Lau,
- [Print](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/portfolio/portfolio-4/)
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- [Team -- Student Bios](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/about/team-2/team-student-bios/) - Wesleyan University Darcie Binder - Darcie is a double major in Government and Anthropology from New York City. In 2013 she joined the Wesleyan Media Project as a lab member. Olivia Horton - Olivia is majoring in Government and Anthropology at Wesleyan University. She has been a research assistant coding for the Wesleyan Media Project
- [Laura Baum](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/about/team-2/laura-baum/) - Laura Baum joined the Wesleyan Media Project in September 2012 as Project Manager. Based at Wesleyan University, Laura manages ongoing operations of the project's real-time tracking of television advertisements. Previously, Laura was the Project Coordinator for the Pittsburgh Philanthropy Project, run through the University of Pittsburgh. She grew up in Portland, OR and holds a
- [Team -- Jenny L. Holland](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/about/team-2/jenny-holland/) - Jenny L. Holland is a Ph.D. Candidate in Political Science at Washington State University and Research Associate for the Wesleyan Media Project. Her primary areas of interest include American politics, electoral behavior, and political communication. More specifically, she examines political preferences in campaigns and elections. Her research has been published in Presidential Studies Quarterly and by the
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- [Data Access](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/data-access/) - During federal election years, the Wesleyan Media Project releases data on aggregate trends in real-time throughout the election cycle. Press release data will be available from our website with each release. Academic requests for data from 1996 - 2008 should be directed to the Wisconsin Advertising Project. Requests for data from 2010 and 2012 beyond information published in our
- [About](https://mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/about-2/) - Transparency and government responsiveness depend critically on real-time publicly available information disclosing efforts to influence elections. The Wesleyan Media Project tracks and analyzes all broadcast advertisements aired by or on behalf of federal and state election candidates in every media market in the country. Since the 2010 election cycle, we have been providing real-time information on the

## Categories

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## Tags

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