The Facts About Election Advertising

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Active voters are active newspaper readers

Top ten reasons newspapers deliver for political campaigns

1. Newspaper readers are votersIn the 2004 presidential election, 9 out of 10 newspaper readers cast a ballot. In the 2006 mid-term elections, when voting is typically much lighter, newspaper readers still delivered the vote, with more than 8 out of 10 newspaper readers going to the polls.

2. Newspapers are credibleVoters look to newspapers for the information they need to make up their minds about candidates and issues. Newspapers rank second only to television among voters when it comes to providing the most helpful information about state & local elections. Newspaper advertising gives a campaign an aura of credibility and respectability that’s unmatched.

3. Newspapers consistently reach votersVoters consistently look to newspapers to help make up their minds about how they’ll vote. While the perceived usefulness of other media rises and falls as the campaign progresses, newspapers maintain their strength for influencing voter opinion. Voters count on newspapers to deliver the whole story about the candidates and issues, from the earliest moments of the campaign right up until

Election Day.

4. Newspapers reach crucial undecided votersThe conventional wisdom among consultants says that only 10-15% of the electorate is typically up for grabs at the end of any campaign. But in reality, that number is much higher. That’s because while only 10-15% of voters may be truly “undecided,” many more are far from certain about their vote. Among those who say they experience some indecision, three out of four are regular newspaper readers. Newspapers can put your message in the hands of this crucial constituency.

5. Newspapers are reliableNobody reads the newspaper to escape from reality, as is often the case with television and radio. And unlike annoying telephone calls, people actually enjoy reading newspapers. Newspaper readers seek out in-depth, detailed political information. With newspaper in your media mix, you can be sure your ad dollars have been well spent.

SOURCE: NAA

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6. Newspapers make targeting easyToday’s newspapers can deliver the message right to the doorsteps of the voters you need to reach. Most major metropolitan newspapers have established sections based on geographic zones and can target a pre-printed flier or brochure for insertion and delivery within a specific zip code. Many can target delivery down to the census tract, block, or even house by house. You can have your message delivered in a flyer or brochure, on a “Post-it” note placed on the front page, or even on the poly/delivery bag in which the newspaper arrives. Poly/delivery bags are especially useful for getting out the vote on Election Day.

7. Newspapers can provide more information to votersUse newspapers to highlight endorsements, issue clarification, and candidate comparisons. Candidates can also use a compelling newspaper ad to generate interest from the press and garner valuable earned media opportunities.

9. All politics is localVoters know newspapers are the place to go to find out what’s going on in their communities. They know that unlike television or radio news programs, newspapers cover local issues every day of the week. And they know with a newspaper, they’ll get real, in-depth coverage of the local issues most important to them. The same issues that often determine how they’ll vote on Election Day.

10. Newspapers are an essential part of a successful media mixBroadcast, direct mail, and phone calls are all still important, but you also have to put money into other proven and effective advertising mediums like newspaper. In fact, newspaper ranks second only to television among voters when it comes to providing the most helpful information about state & local elections.

Top ten reasons newspapers deliver for political campaigns

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8. It’s easy to advertise in newspapersPlacing political ads in newspapers has never been easier. Typically the media buy can be completed with a single order and check. Nearly every state has its own press association that can help you with all of your planning and buying needs. You can always call newspapers

directly. Most have their own trained political sales staff. SOURCE: NAA

• 9 of 10 newspaper readers voted in the last presidential election.

• 8 of 10 newspaper readers voted in the last mid-term election.

• 50% of voters read their newspaper every day.

• 70% of voters read their newspaper several times a week.

of all voters seek political information and ads in their newspaper to help make voting decisions.49%

Newspaper readers are loyal voters

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SOURCE: NAA

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SOURCE: Moore Information 2012

Party Affiliation and Newspaper Media

Overall Results

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SOURCE: Moore Information 2012

Where do likely voters get campaign news?

NEWSPAPERS

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SOURCE: Moore Information’s American Voters Media Use Study 2012

80 percent of voters35 and older are regular readers of newspapers in print or online

Voter base is aging

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SOURCE: Moore Information 2012

40%59%

Voting skews by age

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SOURCE: Moore Information 2012

Among those registered to vote:

Undecided voters read the newspaper

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SOURCE: NAA

Active voters are active newspaper readers.

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SOURCE: NAA

Newspapers influence voter opinion

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SOURCE: NAAActive voters are active newspaper readers.

Why consider newspapers?

As viewing habits change, political strategies switch screens

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Full New York Times article: As Viewing Habits Change, Political Ads Switch Screens

The New York Times, April 1, 2012:“31 percent of likely voters had not watched television ‘live’ – that is,

at the time it was being broadcast, as opposed to online or on a

recording device – in the previous week. And of the 17 percent who

said they mostly watched programs recorded on devices like a

DVR, a large majority skipped through ads most of the time.”

Article’s key takeaways:•Mitt Romney's team spent 18 months trying to fight TV

advertising’s law of diminishing returns.•Candidates see greater value buying audiences online and

replacing TV buys with online.

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SOURCE: Pew Research Center, 2012

Why consider newspapers?

Great recall about campaigns

Campaign knowledge polled

Of note:•1,136 TV viewers were polled, and only 35% answered 3 or more questions correctly.•Just 400 newspaper readers were polled, and 40% answered 3 or more questions correctly.•Though it had more opportunities, TV performed lower than newspapers or Internet.

Why consider newspapers?

Most credible source for candidate information

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SOURCE: Moore Information, 2012

Citizens rated reliability for local political/civic issues affecting them

Voters connect with newspaper media

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SOURCE: Moore Information, 2012

Older voters connect more often

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SOURCE: Moore Information, 2012

Among those registered to vote:

Voters age 18-34 and websites

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SOURCE: Moore Information, 2012

Age group ranked local newspaper websites highest (4-5 out of 5) for reliability on local political/civic issues affecting them.

Mobile platforms

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SOURCE: Moore Information, 2012

One in four (25 percent)report planning to use a smartphone or tablet to check for news about campaigns and elections.

Mobile new sources

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SOURCE: Moore Information, 2012

Those who plan to use mobile devices to check campaign/election news would choose newspaper sources 58 percent of the time.

Mobile news use skews young

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SOURCE: Moore Information, 2012

Age breakdown of those who plan to use mobile devices to check campaign/election news

Young voters and mobile

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SOURCE: Moore Information, 2012

People age 18-34 who plan to use mobile devices for campaign/election news would choose newspaper sources 62 percent of the time.

Political contributors

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SOURCE: Moore Information, 2012

• Slightly more than 1 in 10 people (11%) reported contributing money to a political organization or candidate since they last voted or registered to vote.

• For those who voted in last local election, 14% contributed money.

Contributors are readers

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SOURCE: Moore Information, 2012

Newspaper usage among those who contributed money to political campaigns/candidates:

Reaching all voters

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SOURCE: NAA

HSPA members reach all voters in the fashion they want to receive information:

• Websites

• Newspapers

• Video

• Mobile

• Email

• Social Media

Delivering results

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HSPA can bring your message to life in many ways.

Whether it’s full-color print ads, glossy brochures, or eye-catching links to your campaign’s website – we deliver.

In market after market it’s newspaper websites that are the source for election news. But it doesn’t end there. Newspaper Voter Guides are where many voters turn for information in the crucial days before an election. Add to this front page stick-on notes, brightly colored delivery bags on election day or newspaper-delivered direct mailings, and you’re beginning to get the idea.

HSPA can help you create a high-impact, targeted multi-media campaign.

Regardless of who your target audience is, diversify your media mix and let HSPA deliver voters for you.