ABSTRACT
The audience for television news is often described in terms that suggest the television audience at its most active. During political campaigns special attempts are made by broadcasters to provide additional coverage over and above the norm for political events, while the politicians themselves often stage events that are likely to attract the attention of the newsmakers, in the firm belief that viewers may be extraordinarily thirsty for political news information during campaign periods and may as a result of such exposure be swayed in the desired political direction, or at least encouraged to stay with the side they have already chosen.
