Riding the Wave and Claiming Ownership Over Issues: The Joint Effects of Advertising and News Coverage in Campaigns

1994/01/01 by Stephen Ansolabehere, Shanto Iyengar · 464 citations
Social Sciences · #Computer science #Electoral Systems and Political Participation #Foundation (evidence) #Law #Library science #Media Influence and Politics #Media studies #Political science #Politics #Public opinion #Social Media and Politics #Sociology

paper · doi:10.1086/269431

published in Public Opinion Quarterly 58(3), 335 (Oxford University Press)

openalex publication_date 1994/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/06

Abstract

Using a realistic experimental design, this article tests two hypotheses concerning the relative effectiveness of campaign advertising. The first (issue-ownership) hypothesis predicts that candidates gain the most from advertising on issues over which they can claim “ownership.” The second (riding-the-wave) hypothesis predicts that candidates are better off when they synchronize their advertising with news coverage. Our two studies yield support for the issue-ownership hypothesis, but no evidence of interactive effects between advertising and news.

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