Media Political Economy and Elections: Theorizing Electoral Inequalities

In the political economy approach, mass media, particularly in elections, introduce dominant values and the factor conveying them. First of all, mass media organizations are deemed and studied as institutions mediating between economic, political, and cultural media and their social outcomes. In many cases particularly election situations, mass media contents and products are at the service of economic, political interests of the powerful, and therefore, discrimination and inequality in access to mass media is an example of inequality in access to resources. In other words, those who are denied access to mass media cannot campaign against those who enjoy such a means. In the Islamic Republic of Iran, the role and status of the biggest and most influential medium in elections in the past few years (i.e. IRIB), has prompted many people to base their final decisions on the talk shows and candidates’ interviews and debates broadcast by the National Medium across the country.