The Press and the Local Candidate

Abstract

The 1975 mayoral election in Boston was waged by—as well as through—the press. This article draws on this recent event to examine the role of the press in local politics. Two principal hypotheses are proposed. The press is a major political force that seeks to amass and use its own political power; and the press is an important but selective means of communication between candidates and their voters. The elements of these hypotheses combine to sug gest why the press so often opposes the development of strong and continuing political organizations. If they do not have their own organizations, candidates must either rely on the news organizations or buy their own time and space from the media.