Advantages and Disadvantages of Horse Race Journalism

The first horse race was documented in France in 1651, the result of a wager between two noblemen. During the reign of Louis XIV (1643-1715), the sport became popular, and the French monarch organized a jockey club and set racing rules by royal decree. His laws included requiring horses to have certificates of origin, as well as imposing extra weight on foreign-born horses. Despite these changes, the horse race has remained a popular way to see political candidates.

horse race

One of the greatest advantages of horse race journalism is that it emphasizes the front-runners in the campaign, rather than political issues and other issues. As such, the media has the ability to keep the race open for as long as possible. And it helps to stay focused on a horse race’s progress over a more voluminous debate on other issues. While the metaphor has its disadvantages, the political press must be careful not to over-emphasize the race’s beauty at the expense of substance.

The horse race metaphor is also a great way to frame coverage of the campaigns. In the first quarter of a campaign, a candidate gains a significant lead, then falls back in the back straight. Then, the winner makes it to the home stretch with a winning streak. It is thrilling from start to finish. As a journalist, the horse race metaphor is useful because it helps you to show the spectator who is ahead of whom, and whether a candidate’s position has changed.

The second advantage of horse race coverage is that it focuses on the frontrunners. By highlighting the horses, the media accentuates the candidates’ looks rather than the substance of their speeches. Furthermore, the metaphor is particularly effective at keeping the race open as long as possible. It’s easy to understand why the media adores the idea of a horse race, and it’s a good way to cover a political campaign.

When it comes to the race, the media tends to focus on the frontrunners. They emphasize the qualities and personality of the candidates. The race also focuses on the composition of the images of the candidates. The media tends to focus on beauty and substance, while ignoring the other aspects. While this metaphor can be effective, it is hardly universal. While it is a wonderful way to show the importance of the races, it can also be dangerous.

The horse race metaphor has a negative connotation. It makes the public focus on the candidates who are in frontrunner positions in the campaign. It often leads to an emphasis on the candidates’ looks rather than the substance. Oftentimes, this leads to an inaccurate view of the candidates as “fake news” and the fact that they have no interest in running a horse race. This may also be a sign of bad journalism.