Matthew Dowd on 'earned media'

[JPJones]

"What is discussed in earned media is more important than what's on the paid media," he said of news versus advertising. "But if they are in concert and the message is consistent, it has a tremendous effect."

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/06/politics/06strategy.html?pagewanted=2&oref=login

Translation: he who controls the media...

CNN: "Some say that Kerry has trouble connecting with people..."

Bush ad: "Senator Kerry is out of touch with..."

[snippy]

1. The republican party is very good at controlling the message

put out through earned media. They are able to immediately create phony reactions to nonissues and hammer the media with questions about how democrats are reacting which causes the media to focus on such reactions. And republican talking points are developed and distributed quickly and they are extremely well disciplined in sticking to them. It is not uncommon to channel surf and see 15 different republicans on 10 different shows all saying the exact same thing, using the exact same words with the exact same emphasis. It also is not uncommon to see this even though the talking points for that day have nothing to do with whatever topic is supposed to be under discussion.