General election coverage 'out of sync with priorities'

ANALYSIS ALSO SHOWS LEGACY MEDIA STILL HAS DECISIVE ROLE

- By STAFF REPORTER

NEW analysis of UK news reporting during the 2024 General Election has revealed media coverage did not reflect the way the public actually voted or the issues they cared about most - but challenges the idea that mainstream media is fading in relevance.

The study, conducted by Loughborough University’s Centre for Research in Communication and Culture (CRCC), compared 2024 election reporting with six previous campaigns.

It found that UK mainstream news = especially newspapers - focused on Labour and the Conservatives more than in any recent election, even though the public voted for a much wider range of parties.

Lead author Professor David Deacon said the data exposed a stark imbalance in media representation.

He said: “Historical comparison showed that party representation in this election was uniquely out of kilter with vote share.

“The two-party squeeze in media coverage - always more evident in the press than TV - was at odds with the clear multipolarity of voter preferences this time around.”