Wesleyan Media Project Reflects on 2012 Campaign Ads

Published On

March 5, 2013

The Wesleyan Media Project, a Rockefeller Brothers Fund grantee, analyzed the enormous amount of political advertising projected at Americans during the 2012 election campaigns. With 2013 underway, co-directors Erika Franklin Fowler, Michael M. Franz, and Travis N. Ridout offer their reflections, highlighting fascinating discussion points such as the predominance of male voiceovers, and the primary emotion conveyed in ads—anger. The directors also call attention to the number of ads paid for by special interest groups, noting that their analysis was made possible by the work of the Center for Responsive Politics, another RBF grantee.