Yes campaign commands lion’s share of print media coverage
TNS MediaMarket research on the media’s coverage of the Lisbon Treaty debate has found that Yes campaigners commanded 51 per cent of the national and Sunday press coverage on the topic during the first week of the campaign from August 31st to September 6th, compared to 24 per cent for the No campaigners.
The analysis suggested the print media coverage strongly reflected a concern by the Yes side that voters would use the referendum as a protest vote against the Government.
It found Taoiseach Brian Cowen drove much of the coverage, at least in terms of column inches, which allowed Fianna Fáil to be ranked as the most prominent Yes campaign group.
Fine Gael and Labour, who also focused on trying to appeal to voters not to use their vote to bash the Government, were second and third respectively in the Yes campaigners league.
The research found the top three non-political Yes contributors were “Ireland for Europe”, “We Belong” and Ryanair’s chief executive Michael O’Leary. It said: “Much of the focus of the Yes campaign remains on damning the No debate, with Michéal Martin and Dick Roche condemning the tactics of Cóir.”
The research said Cóir managed to grab significant press coverage through its controversial poster campaign, particularly on its minimum wage posters, which were the subject of 24 articles last week.
Sinn Féin and Patricia McKenna’s People’s Movement returned second and third place in the No campaigners league, though the analysis said Sinn Fein’s coverage was “somewhat off-subject”, concentrating more on its TNS MRBI poll results.
Yes Campaigns (number of articles in brackets)
1. Fianna Fáil (133)
2. Fine Gael (62)
3. Labour (51)
4. Green Party (50)
5. Ireland for Europe / We Belong / Ryanair (17 each)
No Campaigns (number of articles in brackets)
1. Cóir (45)
2. Sinn Féin (26)
3. People’s Movement (21)
4. Youth Defence (16)
5. Socialist Party (14)
