This is another view-from-my-office photo.
It was obvious while photographing some of the federal election campaigns over the past two weeks that news media turnout has drastically dropped over the past three federal elections.
Instead of busloads of reporters, TV crews and photographers, there was maybe one busload for the Liberal Party. The media following the Conservative Party was transported in a couple of cars.
Years ago, a dozen reporters, a couple columnists, a half-dozen TV crews and maybe four or five photographers traveled with each party leader. This year, there was one TV crew, two photographers and six or seven reporters with the main leaders.
One problem with news media cutbacks is the reduction of news coverage. Most of the news coverage from the election campaigns was pooled (i.e., shared) among several competing news outlets. This meant that many news organizations had the same or similar coverage.
Cell phones, cell phones
Remember when selfies were something that teenagers did? At all campaign stops, adults, up to their sixties, were clamouring for selfies with the party leaders. Swarms of adults rushed each politician for selfies. Some campaign stops spent more time doing selfies than the politician talking.
At rallies, a large number of adults constantly held their cell phones and tablets in the air. Instead of watching and listening to the politician right in front of them, they were busy recording it just like teenagers at a rock concert.
A few observations
The Liberal Party was great at giving out its leader’s daily itinerary. The Conservative Party, not so much.
Security was very low key especially around the Prime Minister. At each stop, the RCMP always had officers in and around the area or building where the Prime Minister was appearing. But they only checked the cameras and equipment bags that the media were carrying. No individual was ever searched nor was any member of the public.
It was interesting to watch how each leader dodged questions they didn’t like and how they repeated their key messages over and over again within a short speech.
Each party leader has a very different style of speaking and interacting with the audience. Justin Trudeau is more smiley and he touches and embraces people more easily than Andrew Scheer. Trudeau’s voice was more forceful or louder when needed. Scheer didn’t raise his voice as much. Trudeau often moved around the stage but Scheer tended to stay in one area.
Each party leader was good at telling their audience what they wanted to hear. The larger rallies were just preaching to the converted.
