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Travis N. Ridout

@tnridout.bsky.social

1.4K followers 570 following 10 posts

Thomas S. Foley Professor, Washington State University; co-director of Wesleyan Media Project; political advertising, news media, political communication

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Communication & Media Studies 45%

Political science 32%

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Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

Kevin Coe @kcoe.bsky.social · Dec 18

Political Communication Report has become some of our subfield's most essential reading, and this new issue is no exception. Many thanks to @curdknupfer.bsky.social for his work to revitalize this important forum, and to all the excellent contributors!

APSA & ICA Political Communication Divisions @polcomm.bsky.social · Dec 18

✨Out now: The Fall Issue (Nr. 30) of the Political Communication Report!✨
“What does PolComm Stand for? Normative Dimensions of Political Communication Research & Theorizing”
📖 Full issue: politicalcommunication.org/issue/fall-2...

A 🧵 on the essays featured in this issue:

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Reposted by Dhavan V. Shah, Sabina Mihelj, Sebastián Valenzuela , and 3 more Dhavan V. Shah, Sabina Mihelj, Sebastián Valenzuela, Travis N. Ridout, Daniel Kreiss, Kevin Coe

APSA & ICA Political Communication Divisions @polcomm.bsky.social · Dec 18

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Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

The New York Times @nytimes.com · Dec 6

Elon Musk spent over a quarter of a billion dollars to help Donald Trump win the presidency, federal filings revealed.

Elon Musk Spent Over $250 Million to Help Elect Trump

The enormous spending from the world’s richest man quietly fueled allied groups and was revealed only now, as Mr. Musk plays a key role in the presidential transition.

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

Campaign Legal Center @campaignlegal.org · Dec 4

VICTORY: In a win for transparency, a Washington state court rejected Meta's challenge to a key disclosure law that requires media entities, including social media companies, to track and disclose political advertising.
campaignlegal.org/update/meta-...

Meta Violated Washington State Disclosure Requirements, State Court Rules

campaignlegal.org

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Travis N. Ridout @tnridout.bsky.social · Nov 15

TV advertising in 2024 presidential race was close to dead even. Our quick take on political advertising in this year's campaign. With @efranklinfowler.bsky.social and @mikefranz.bsky.social

Advertising trends in the 2024 presidential race - Election Analysis - United States

Prof. Travis N. Ridout Professor in the School of Politics, Philosophy and Public Affairs at Washington State University. He does research on political communication, political campaigns and advertisi...

www.electionanalysis.ws

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Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

Bellingcat @bellingcat.com · Nov 4

In this new guide by Pooja Chaudhuri and Melissa Zhu we outline how we used Meta’s free-to-use Ad Library to analyse data about political candidates’ ad spending to get a sense of how they approach digital advertising. www.bellingcat.com/resources/20...

Tracking Harris and Trump’s Ad Spending on Facebook and Instagram

Meta’s Ad Library is free to use, and provides useful insights into how politicians and their campaigns are advertising on social media platforms.

www.bellingcat.com

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Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

Wesleyan Media Project @wesmediaproject.bsky.social · Oct 24

💥 NEW report from WMP: Nearly $300 Million in Presidential Ad Spending Across Platforms Over Past Two Weeks.

Read the full report: mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-102...

@efranklinfowler.bsky.social , @tnridout.bsky.social, and @mmfranz.bsky.social.

#2024election #politicalads

Harris TV Ads Plummet Before Rebounding - Wesleyan Media Project

mediaproject.wesleyan.edu

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Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

Wesleyan Media Project @wesmediaproject.bsky.social · Oct 17

💥 New tools for visualizing presidential advertising by geography! One that shows the breakdown of presidential ads by issue mentions on TV & one that shows FB & IG spending over time. ⬇️ mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/issues-oct24/

@mmfranz.bsky.social @tnridout.bsky.social @efranklinfowler.bsky.social

Presidential Advertising Issue Spotlight (7/22/24 – 10/15/24) - Wesleyan Media Project

mediaproject.wesleyan.edu

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Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

Wesleyan Media Project @wesmediaproject.bsky.social · Oct 3

💡 WMP Issue Spotlight: This is the third post in a series of issue mentions in federal races by state shows the percentage of ads mentioning eight key issues tracked by the WMP.

See the release for more details: mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/issues-sept24/

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Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · Oct 2

The NRSC is shifting its ad buys from independent expenditures to hybrid ads. Why? The law requires candidates to be offered the "lowest unit rate" for TV and radio ads close to an election, while parties pay higher rates for independent expenditures.
www.politico.com/news/2024/10...

Senate Republicans make sudden change in ad strategy amid cash crunch

The NRSC is canceling its independent ad reservations and redirecting it to hybrid ads, made with the candidates.

www.politico.com

Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

Wesleyan Media Project @wesmediaproject.bsky.social · Sep 27

💥NEW from WMP: Pro-Trump Ads Declining on TV; Harris outspends Trump 16:1 on Meta & 3:1 on Google.

Pro-Harris TV ads more common than pro-Trump in almost all media markets nationally.

mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-092...
@efranklinfowler.bsky.social @tnridout.bsky.social @mmfranz.bsky.social

Pro-Trump TV Ads Plummet in Past Two Weeks as Harris Expands Ad Advantage Across Platforms - Wesleyan Media Project

mediaproject.wesleyan.edu

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Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

Jacob S. Lewis @profjslewis.bsky.social · Sep 26

Dear #polisky colleagues:

Do you have any promising undergraduate seniors interested in pursuing a Ph.D.? Please consider pointing them to Washington State University (@wsupppa.bsky.social) - we have excellent scholars focusing on political psychology, political comms, and democracy!

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Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

Wesleyan Media Project @wesmediaproject.bsky.social · Sep 12

💥NEW from WMP: Dem, GOP TV ads are almost equal, but Harris is outspending Trump nearly 3:1 on Meta & Google.

Airings in pres race have shifted to focus on the economy.

Full report: mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-091...

@mmfranz.bsky.social @tnridout.bsky.social @efranklinfowler.bsky.social

Presidential Campaign Turns to Economic Issues - Wesleyan Media Project

mediaproject.wesleyan.edu

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Travis N. Ridout @tnridout.bsky.social · Sep 4

I'll back up that!

Erika Franklin Fowler @efranklinfowler.bsky.social · Aug 29

I also want to give a huge shoutout to WMP program manager @breezefloyd.bsky.social for all of the work she puts in to get these out. So very grateful! (Cc @tnridout.bsky.social)

Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

Erika Franklin Fowler @efranklinfowler.bsky.social · Aug 29

I also want to give a huge shoutout to WMP program manager @breezefloyd.bsky.social for all of the work she puts in to get these out. So very grateful! (Cc @tnridout.bsky.social)

Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

Wesleyan Media Project @wesmediaproject.bsky.social · Aug 29

💥 New WMP report: Trump & allies unleash barrage of attack ads. Harris is competitive on TV & w/DNC heavily outspending Trump on Meta & Google. #2024election polisky polcomm #commsky

@tnridout.bsky.social @efranklinfowler.bsky.social

Read the full report: mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-082...

Trump and Allies Launch Barrage of Negative Ads - Wesleyan Media Project

mediaproject.wesleyan.edu

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Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

Matt Grossmann @mattgrossmann.bsky.social · Aug 8

Pro-Harris advertising is much more effective than anti-Trump advertising. The best ads are normal Democratic issue ads:
www.slowboring.com/p/whats-bett...

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Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

Sage's Social Science Computer Review @sscratsage.bsky.social · Jun 13

SI @SSCRatSage #2: @tnridout.bsky.social, @efranklinfowler.bsky.social and others examine paid election advertisements placed on YouTube, Google search, Instagram, and Facebook during the US 2020 elections
doi.org/10.1177/0894...

Sage Journals: Your gateway to world-class research journals

Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.

doi.org

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Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

Wesleyan Media Project @wesmediaproject.bsky.social · May 23

💥New WMP Report: Biden airs $13m in broadcast ads since Super Tuesday. Trump campaign has none. @tnridout.bsky.social @efranklinfowler.bsky.social & Michael Franz w/ @opensecretsdc.bsky.social

Read the full report here: mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-052...

polisky polcom #commsky

Biden on TV in Key States, While Trump is Off-Air - Wesleyan Media Project

mediaproject.wesleyan.edu

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Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

Wesleyan Media Project @wesmediaproject.bsky.social · Mar 14

💥New WMP Report: 📉Senate, House Advertising Spikes as Presidential Ads Wane

@efranklinfowler.bsky.social @tnridout.bsky.social & Michael Franz

@opensecretsdc.bsky.social

Read the full report here: mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-031...

#wesmediaproject #2024election

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Travis N. Ridout @tnridout.bsky.social · Mar 10

It's not too hard to detect Biden's general election strategy in this ad.

Vibes only @brazuca.bsky.social · Mar 9

www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6e4...

For You | Biden-Harris 2024

Follow Joe!Joe’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/joebidenJoe’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joebidenJoe’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joebidenJoe...

www.youtube.com

Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

Vibes only @brazuca.bsky.social · Mar 9

www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6e4...

For You | Biden-Harris 2024

Follow Joe!Joe’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/joebidenJoe’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joebidenJoe’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joebidenJoe...

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

Dr. Monali Desai @drmonalidesai.bsky.social · Mar 1

2024 Political Ad Spending Will Jump Nearly 30% vs. 2020
www.insiderintelligence.com/press-releas...

2024 Political Ad Spending Will Jump Nearly 30% vs. 2020

<p>Total US political ad spending will surpass $12 billion in 2024 January 11, 2024 (New York, NY) – Total US political ad spending* will hit $12.32 billion in 2024, up nearly 29% from the prior presi...

www.insiderintelligence.com

Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · Feb 29

If you're a journalist/ researcher interested in election transparency, add our PoliDashboard app to your workflow. It's a tool designed to make paid online political advertising on Meta’s platforms more transparent & resistant to both foreign+domestic manipulation. socialmedialab.ca/2024/01/23/m...

Making the Invisible Visible: Introducing PoliDashboard v2 – An App For Tracking Political Ads on Meta’s Advertising Platforms | Social Media Lab

socialmedialab.ca

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Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · Feb 24

As targeted political advertising on social media has become trickier US campaign groups are paying ‘micro-influencers’ to sway voters in specific communities
on.ft.com/42MBhUV

Will ‘micro-influencers’ sway tight US election races?

Political campaign groups spend millions on social media users with small followings to target messages better

on.ft.com

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Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · Feb 23

"Political Ads Can Target Your Personality. Here’s What Could Go Wrong. This banner year for elections worldwide may witness the arrival of advertising tailored to your personality" www.scientificamerican.com/article/poli...

Political Ads Can Target Your Personality. Here's What Could Go Wrong

This banner year for elections worldwide may witness the arrival of advertising tailored to your personality

www.scientificamerican.com

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Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

Wesleyan Media Project @wesmediaproject.bsky.social · Feb 16

Read the full report here: mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-021...

#wesmediaproject #2024election

Advertising in Presidential Race Takes a Nosedive after New Hampshire - Wesleyan Media Project

mediaproject.wesleyan.edu

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Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

Wesleyan Media Project @wesmediaproject.bsky.social · Feb 16

💥New WMP Report: Advertising in Presidential Race Takes a Nosedive after New Hampshire📉

@efranklinfowler.bsky.social @tnridout.bsky.social & Michael Franz

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