Abstract:
Within the world of politics, there may be nothing more significant than the incumbency
advantage. Whenever a sitting politician decides to run for reelection, they normally
have substantial advantages over anyone who attempts to run against them either in
the primary or in the general election. Political parties rally around incumbents, and this
support often comes by way of monetary contributions which are critical to any success
in the political arena. One of the ways these funds are used is through advertising.
Media outlets, be it newspapers, television outlets, or radio stations, provide this
important avenue of outreach to candidates for a substantial price, and the candidates
with the most money available to purchase this advertising often have the most success
in elections. Not only is the advertising sold by media companies critical, but media
coverage in general also plays a vital role in elections. Although the general consensus
is that incumbents often have an advantage within the media, the question is whether
challengers are afforded any kind of assistance, albeit minimal, in these situations.
Through the creation of academic podcasts, and based on the feedback from those who
listened to the podcasts, it is clear that the general public believes challengers face an
uphill battle when attempting to overcome the incumbency advantage within the media,
regardless of party affiliation.
