Political organizations have been buying-up commercial space on television recently. This is because election season is upon us with the presidential election happening this November.
Consumers do not know whether to trust the information in the commercials because they do not know the company — that is quickly announced at the beginning or end of the commercial — or what that company stands for. Free Press, a nonpartisan organization, is trying to use technology and the media we have today to get this information to the public so companies are not overlooked.
Free Press began a campaign recently to enlist anyone — college journalism students especially — who wants to help by collecting background information on these groups from television stations’ records. The television stations that air the political commercials have a records base that contains information about the advertisements. The records could greatly inform the public about what they are seeing as they watch the evening news. Simply, the goal is to have people collect all of this information from the stations and get the data to Free Press. Thereafter, Free Press can consolidate it all and present it to the public before November’s vote.
This campaign is very interesting for two reasons: what they are doing and how they are doing it. Free Press is bringing together something that is usually jumbled and difficult for the average voter to find. Especially since, according to Free Press’ website, this is the first time that the Federal Communications Commission is forcing stations to release this information. This will be useful for people who want to better inform themselves before they head to the polls.
Social media and e-mail are also alternative tools used to become informed and involved. Only within the last couple years has this option of getting the word out through modern technology been a viable tool, and to see this movement’s results could show the vitality of technological communication in getting support.
Free Press urges people to become investigators for more understanding behind political ads. Photo courtesy of Free Press.
You can reach me on Twitter at @Court_Jeffrey or via email at cejeffre@asu.edu. Happy voting!
