But, shag, that doesn't matter - all I am talking about is how TV skews, and how that is changing. Nothing about voters - i don't really care about them in this discussion.
But this discussion was originally about what Obama voters knew and didn't know. So who is and isn't a likely voter is very relevant..
Yes, there are some older people in urban areas - fewer young people in suburbs/rural areas. The age/geo (with a liberal sprinkling of economic status) way of breaking demographics is pretty much a standard thing.
But that doesn't mean it is correct. What are the samples? Why are they the way that they are? That kind of thing.
And, yes, as I stated, older people, who didn't grow up with new media are the ones left watching broadcast TV and reading newspapers - so yes, it is becoming more and more apparent that the 'liberal' part of that traditional media is starting to fail. That same media who use to cater to that same group, when they were younger, more liberal, and yes watching TV. Now that same group is older, probably more conservative, but stuck in the way they get their news delivered to them. They depend on TV, radio and newspapers, because that is all they used to have
How much of this is speculation and how much can be rationally drawn from the numbers?
Most "older people" (if you are defining that as 'above 35') get a good chunk of their news from the web, or radio as well as newspaper and TV. The only people I know that stick with newspaper and TV, because that is likely what they are comfortable with) are senior citizens
Yes, so that is why broadcast TV is starting to move to the right. Since at least the 70s, it has been the most common news delivery source for young/left and old/right. So, it started to skew left because it needed to appeal to younger demos who were spending money because they 'saw it on TV'. That is why forever you have heard about how the 18 to 35 year old group is so important.
...and for advertising, that makes sense. But we are talking consuming of news on TV. Most 18-35 year olds do not (and have not) watched the news as much as 36 and older do. That is not because they are getting the news somewhere else, it is because they are not seeking the news. (at least as much as the older crowd).
Well, now that new 18 to 35 demographic isn't watching broadcast TV. However the group that was in that 18 to 35 group is aging, still watching TV and moving to the right.
Again, we are not talking about watching TV. We are talking about seeking out and consuming the news. TV is only relevant in weather newscasts are being watched or not. If they are watching Galactica or Wheel of fortune, it is rather irrelevant.
Your argument seems based more on speculation from very broad numbers then it does from drawing a logical conclusion from more specific numbers.
One fact you don't seem to take into account; the 18-35 demographic is much more heavily influenced by Pop culture. Unless they are actively seeking the news, they are going to get most of the info on the candidates, political parties and current events from the pop culture they interact with (TV, Radio, Music, Magazines, Video Games, etc.). That has been true long before the rise of the internet and the new media and it will be true long after a new balance has been achieved.
Also, u seem to be looking at this from an advertising perspective. I assume that the demographics you deal with have more to do with advertising, and who is watching advertising. So I have to ask how various things like Tivo are effecting that; where people are able to avoid watching the commercials. Older people are less likely to want to go out and get Tivo and what not, while younger people would want to. So your advertising numbers will reflect a larger disparity there among TV viewers then is actually there.
Has there actually been a drop in the number of people in the 18-35 group watching TV? Or has that number stayed pretty consistent? Also, if there is a drop, what other possible explainations are their? Did the surveors change methodology?
Basically, there are a lot of degrees of separation between the numbers reported (for advertising purposes) of people in various age groups said to be watching TV, and the actual numbers and trends of people (and their political leanings and geographical location) in the various age groups watching the news, and likely to vote.
Also, you seem to be making some logical leaps it reach the conclusions that you do concerning the trends (while avoiding certian facts).