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Boris wins - in the press at least
BORIS Johnson won the battle for press coverage in the run-up to the election, says a media analyst.
Monitoring national and London-wide press stories in April showed Ken Livingstone slightly ahead on overall media coverage - featuring in 1,048 stories, compared to Mr Johnson's 1,000.
But the Tory candidate enjoyed more favourable stories - 215, to 199 about Mr Livingstone.
Analysis focused on the media's portrayal of each candidate and the sentiment towards them in relation to key issues.
These included probity and corruption, crime and policing, green politics, transport and congestion charges and the candidates' potential to be a positive force for London.
Probity and corruption was Ken Livingstone's worst issue with 35 negative stories compared to just two that featured Mr Johnson negatively and one each for Brian Paddick and Sian Berry.
On the issue of candidate credibility, Mr Johnson had 229 stories - more than any other candidate - and just 61 of them positive.
Many of the other 168 negative mentions referred to Boris as a "buffoon" or otherwise questioned his capability to run the city.
On crime and policing, Mr Johnson was featured positively 150 times compared to just 82 positive mentions on this subject for Mr Livingstone.
Former police chief Brian Paddick had just 70 positive mentions on what should have been his strongest campaign issue.
On stories featuring transport and congestion charge, Mr Livingstone had 128 positive mentions compared with Mr Johnson's 69.
On environmental issues Green candidate Sian Berry got 48 positive mentions - running a close second to Mr Livingstone who got 57.
Mr Johnson got the highest number of unfavourable mentions - 20 - in stories about the environment.
Jeremy Thompson, managing director of Durrants, who carried out the analysis, said: "There is a lot of goodwill towards Boris on some key issues, particularly crime and policing, and his overall favourability rating was marginally higher than Ken Livingstone during the month.
"However, many in the media still doubt Boris's ability to run the capital and be a positive force for London."
The vote count is underway and the results are expected this evening.
9:15am Friday 2nd May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Harry, Dartford on 10:27am Fri 2 May 08
If Boris wins god help us all!
If Boris wins god help us all!
Posted by: Mia, Bromley on 10:39am Fri 2 May 08
Anything is better then Ken Livingstone!
Anything is better then Ken Livingstone!
Posted by: the blatant beast, London on 10:42am Fri 2 May 08
Exit polls have Boris in the lead.
Exit polls have Boris in the lead.
Posted by: Me, Orpington on 11:00am Fri 2 May 08
[quote][bold]Harry[/bold] wrote:
If Boris wins god help us all![/quote] Yes, because Livingstones done a grand job hasn't he. It's now easy to get into London to WORK, on cheap London transport and crime is at an all time low eh?
Take your blinkers off my friend!
Harry wrote:
If Boris wins god help us all!
Yes, because Livingstones done a grand job hasn't he. It's now easy to get into London to WORK, on cheap London transport and crime is at an all time low eh?
Take your blinkers off my friend!
Posted by: Gary, Bromley on 11:16am Fri 2 May 08
Quote
"Yes, because Livingstones done a grand job hasn't he. It's now easy to get into London to WORK, on cheap London transport and crime is at an all time low eh?
Take your blinkers off my friend!"
Who was the person the fought PPL who has invested in public transport and made it safer for your kids to travel around using free public transport you my friend need to wake up. Ken the chap who has make london a better place to work in live in, lets hope he can continue. It that Boris gets in you will see services go down and costs go up!
Quote
"Yes, because Livingstones done a grand job hasn't he. It's now easy to get into London to WORK, on cheap London transport and crime is at an all time low eh?
Take your blinkers off my friend!"
Who was the person the fought PPL who has invested in public transport and made it safer for your kids to travel around using free public transport you my friend need to wake up. Ken the chap who has make london a better place to work in live in, lets hope he can continue. It that Boris gets in you will see services go down and costs go up!
Posted by: bb, london s.e. on 11:17am Fri 2 May 08
I so hope that Boris is our new Mayor. I would love to see the little weasel's (Ken) face when he realises he's lost. He has been a complete disaster for London, so much so, that I really don't want to live here any more.
I so hope that Boris is our new Mayor. I would love to see the little weasel's (Ken) face when he realises he's lost. He has been a complete disaster for London, so much so, that I really don't want to live here any more.
Posted by: bb, london s.e. on 11:21am Fri 2 May 08
Gary, no doubt you don't have to travel on public transport when the kids are using it for free. The majority of them are rude and aggressive and don't make me feel safe.
Gary, no doubt you don't have to travel on public transport when the kids are using it for free. The majority of them are rude and aggressive and don't make me feel safe.
Posted by: theword, here and there on 11:24am Fri 2 May 08
[quote][bold]Gary[/bold] wrote:
Quote "Yes, because Livingstones done a grand job hasn't he. It's now easy to get into London to WORK, on cheap London transport and crime is at an all time low eh? Take your blinkers off my friend!" Who was the person the fought PPL who has invested in public transport and made it safer for your kids to travel around using free public transport you my friend need to wake up. Ken the chap who has make london a better place to work in live in, lets hope he can continue. It that Boris gets in you will see services go down and costs go up! [/quote] Errr safer for who? free travel round the clock for teenagers!so they can vandalise the bus for free then escape on another bus for free.London a better place to live?
your on another planet pal.Cant see Boris having a cosy chat with a terrorist. Welcome Boris!!!
Gary wrote:
Quote "Yes, because Livingstones done a grand job hasn't he. It's now easy to get into London to WORK, on cheap London transport and crime is at an all time low eh? Take your blinkers off my friend!" Who was the person the fought PPL who has invested in public transport and made it safer for your kids to travel around using free public transport you my friend need to wake up. Ken the chap who has make london a better place to work in live in, lets hope he can continue. It that Boris gets in you will see services go down and costs go up!
Errr safer for who? free travel round the clock for teenagers!so they can vandalise the bus for free then escape on another bus for free.London a better place to live?
your on another planet pal.Cant see Boris having a cosy chat with a terrorist. Welcome Boris!!!
Posted by: Lucy on 11:45am Fri 2 May 08
Boris is boring! He belongs on a viking ship, much more fun!
Boris is boring! He belongs on a viking ship, much more fun!
Posted by: Sunny, London on 11:45am Fri 2 May 08
Didn't you hear about the 4 bendy buses Kennie arranged (for free!!) to travel around London for junkies to use?? Yes, free nurse service to help you with your fix (safely) and needle disposal bins -marked for this use. How inappropriate is that?? BYE BYE BABY KENNIE BYE BYE, BYE BYE. AND GOOD RIDENANCE. Little Harry wants a job with you!
Didn't you hear about the 4 bendy buses Kennie arranged (for free!!) to travel around London for junkies to use?? Yes, free nurse service to help you with your fix (safely) and needle disposal bins -marked for this use. How inappropriate is that?? BYE BYE BABY KENNIE BYE BYE, BYE BYE. AND GOOD RIDENANCE. Little Harry wants a job with you!
Posted by: Lisa, Penge on 11:53am Fri 2 May 08
Only Ken would introduce free bus travel for kids so they can jump on a bus (free) to go one bus stop when everyone is trying to promote health eating and exercise for children. Yeah! What a brain box he is.
Only Ken would introduce free bus travel for kids so they can jump on a bus (free) to go one bus stop when everyone is trying to promote health eating and exercise for children. Yeah! What a brain box he is.
Posted by: Terry Thomas, Sidcup on 12:26pm Fri 2 May 08
The truth is that both of the candidates (Livingston & Johnson) were only put forward for the mayorship because they are an embarrassment to their parties, and this is a good way to get rid of them.
The truth is that both of the candidates (Livingston & Johnson) were only put forward for the mayorship because they are an embarrassment to their parties, and this is a good way to get rid of them.
Posted by: A Voter, Welling on 7:38pm Fri 2 May 08
I hope Boris does win today but it won't be on the back of his campaign team...
With voter apathy against Ken and Labour, Boris's PRs should have got him more than 16 positive stories greater than Ken's.
Seems to me Boris's votes are due to anti-Ken sentiments and because of his jolly personality. His team should have done so much more for him than, for example, his pretty disasterous Question Time appearance and general portrayal in the media as a buffoon.
Shame his team seems to be run by the so-called "cream" of Bexley's councillors.
Hopefully a (drastically reduced) City Hall staff will be recruited to do a much better job than them to promote London when Boris starts his new job tomorrow.
I hope Boris does win today but it won't be on the back of his campaign team...
With voter apathy against Ken and Labour, Boris's PRs should have got him more than 16 positive stories greater than Ken's.
Seems to me Boris's votes are due to anti-Ken sentiments and because of his jolly personality. His team should have done so much more for him than, for example, his pretty disasterous Question Time appearance and general portrayal in the media as a buffoon.
Shame his team seems to be run by the so-called "cream" of Bexley's councillors.
Hopefully a (drastically reduced) City Hall staff will be recruited to do a much better job than them to promote London when Boris starts his new job tomorrow.
Posted by: A Voter, Welling on 1:16am Thu 8 May 08
[quote][bold]A Voter[/bold] wrote:
I hope Boris does win today but it won\'t be on the back of his campaign team... With voter apathy against Ken and Labour, Boris\'s PRs should have got him more than 16 positive stories greater than Ken\'s. Seems to me Boris\'s votes are due to anti-Ken sentiments and because of his jolly personality. His team should have done so much more for him than, for example, his pretty disasterous Question Time appearance and general portrayal in the media as a buffoon. Shame his team seems to be run by the so-called \"cream\" of Bexley\'s councillors. Hopefully a (drastically reduced) City Hall staff will be recruited to do a much better job than them to promote London when Boris starts his new job tomorrow.[/quote] Oh dear, I was wrong. They ARE the ones who have been recruited....
A Voter wrote:
I hope Boris does win today but it won\'t be on the back of his campaign team... With voter apathy against Ken and Labour, Boris\'s PRs should have got him more than 16 positive stories greater than Ken\'s. Seems to me Boris\'s votes are due to anti-Ken sentiments and because of his jolly personality. His team should have done so much more for him than, for example, his pretty disasterous Question Time appearance and general portrayal in the media as a buffoon. Shame his team seems to be run by the so-called \"cream\" of Bexley\'s councillors. Hopefully a (drastically reduced) City Hall staff will be recruited to do a much better job than them to promote London when Boris starts his new job tomorrow.
Oh dear, I was wrong. They ARE the ones who have been recruited....
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