If most of us still get our information about elections from the corporate media -- including the CBC -- then the way the media frame the campaign could determine the election's outcome.
Will Harper finally get his long-sought majority, so he can shift from incremental change to the blitzkrieg approach perfected by the New Zealand Labour government in the 1980s?
Or will he be relegated to yet another minority, in which case he continues to move his agenda forward step by step?
Canadians went into election mode faced with two competing narratives for them to consider. In the one presented by the opposition parties, the Harper government is ethically challenged and can't be trusted.
In the other, presented by the Conservatives, the Harper government is the one best able to manage the economy in these perilous times.
The frame the media privilege could determine the outcome.
Of course, the political parties will all have sophisticated advertising and social media campaigns that appeal directly to key demographics.
Advertising
And, of course Facebook, Twitter and YouTube will all be buzzing with information and opinions about the election.
But the vast majority of people who intend to vote will look to their newspapers and television for news and views about the leaders, the parties and the campaigns.
Unsurprisingly, the National Post declared the "Harper as competent manager of the economy" frame on day one, by plastering its front page with glowing endorsements from David Frum ("Canada needs a Tory government to balance the books") and Conrad Black ("Harper should win, and deserves to, unless he blows up").
You can be sure its news coverage will privilege the Conservatives' handling of the economy and ignore stories about the government's ethical challenges.
What about the other media, both print and electronic?
The media will be covering the election.
We need to be covering the media.
Couldn't have said it better, Donald. The position the corporate media has taken is even more troubling considering the outright contempt and disregard with which the Harper govt has treated them ever since they were in office. It is profoundly sad and I hate to say I do not recognize the Canada we live in. But it's good to know that people like you are paying close attention to not just the politicians, but also the media. I came across another great post on putting close scrutiny on the media here http://pepperpot.ca/society-and-politics/canadian-election-media-coverag.... Not sure if the corporate media position has anything to do with conglomeration, but it sure stinks of it.