Finally, TV news gave more air time to surveys that showed a big jump in one direction or the other. In other words, big changes in poll margins are more dramatic — and more likely to be discussed on air.
So for TV news consumers, the message remains the same: Keep your eye on those polling averages.
Kathleen Searles is an assistant professor of political communication in the Manship School of Mass Communication at Louisiana State University.
Martha Humphries Ginn is an associate professor of political science at Augusta University.
Jonathan Nickens is a Ph.D. student in political science at Louisiana State University.