This book provides the first systematic, empirical analysis of the media’s approach to US vice-presidential selection (or the “veepstakes”). In their news coverage, Devine finds that media outlets typically treat vice-presidential selection as little more than a game—by focusing on how potential running mates might help to win the election, rather than how they might help the next president to govern. Based on an original content analysis of hundreds of veepstakes profiles from 2000–2020, this book quantifies the news media’s relative emphasis on various selection criteria, in general and across different electoral circumstances. The analysis suggests that journalists generally fail to serve the public interest by emphasizing electoral over governing considerations. However, Devine also points to positive examples of media coverage that help the public to evaluate potential running mates’ governing credentials, and suggests ways in which scholars, journalists, and citizens might encourage media outlets to provide more substantive, responsible coverage of the vice-presidential selection process in future elections.
Author(s): Christopher J. Devine
Publisher: Palgrave Pivot
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 147
City: Cham
Acknowledgments
Praise for News Media Coverage of the Vice-Presidential Selection Process
Contents
About the Author
List of Figures
List of Tables
1 Introduction
Initial Insights
Volume of Media Coverage
Electoral Considerations
Variability in Media Coverage
So, What?
Why Veepstakes Media Coverage?
Plan of the Book
References
2 How the Veepstakes Came to Be
Vice-Presidential Selection Before the Veepstakes
The Constitution’s Selection Process
The Parties’ Selection Process
The Presidential Candidate’s Selection Process(?)
The Veepstakes Era
A Reformed Nomination Process
The First Veepstakes
A More Powerful Vice Presidency
Media Vetting—or a Parlor Game?
References
3 Studying the Veepstakes
Data
Coding
References
4 Veepstakes Media Coverage, 2000–2016
Which Veepstakes Criteria Come Up (Most Often) in Media Coverage?
Do the Media Talk Too Much About Getting Elected—And Not Enough About Governing?
Is Ticket-Balancing a Priority?
Conclusion
References
5 Veepstakes Media Coverage, 2020
Qualitative Analysis
Quantitative Analysis
Conclusion
References
6 Conclusion
There’s No Easy Fix
Opportunities for Improvement
Future Research
Public-Facing Scholarship
Call It Out
References
Appendix A: Data Sources
Appendix B: Coding Rubric
Overview
Codes
Background
Campaigning
Compatibility
Demography
Electoral Appeal
Experience
Geography
Issues
Party Factions
Personal Attributes
Qualifications
Washington, D.C.
Index
