The Internet and the 2008 Election

Beyond the sound bite

Introduction

After a long trend toward less news coverage of candidates’ words and policy positions, the online environment is offering engaged voters new chances to gather more comprehensive information about campaign events, candidates’ speeches, and office-seekers’ positions on issues. They are doing workarounds of “sound bite” culture by using the internet to view campaign events directly and to parse candidates’ positions more fully.

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Copyright 2012 Pew Internet & American Life Project

The Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project is one of seven projects that make up the Pew Research Center. The Center is supported by The Pew Charitable Trust.