As a Saudi Arabian, it has been fascinating the Australian General Election. Exciting too - because the result was so close. However, from a media and public relations point-of-view, it was very interesting.

TV advertisments.
Many of these were so very negative. In the end, you thought that both sides were the worst possible scoundrels. The Liberals painted Labor as incompetent, and big spenders. Labor said that the Liberals were going to bring in very hard industrial conditions for workers.

There were also some positive TV adverts. I did a project on this one for one of my subjects.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gcP0CuV-XU&feature=pyv&ad=6309204226&kw=election&gclid=CIu-uZKoxaMCFQK_bwodsFH0Yg

I found that the Prime Minister was very careful in her speech - her pace of speaking was slow and deliberate. And every point she made had a text, reinforcing the message. She was, as they say,  "on message."  In the background, she had an Australian flag on one side, and a bowl of flowers on the other - symbolising patriotism and  her femininity - after all, she was the first female Prime Minister of Australia. Her dress, and the way she looked at the camera - all this gave the impression of a leader.

The flag, and the flowers were probably aimed at different publics- those mainly men, who are influenced or impressed by the flag, and patriotism - and also, perhaps women, who would see her as representing them.

The message was delivered in short phrases; each chunk dealt with with one of the positive things that Julia was going to deliver - broadband, a mining tax to give jobs, and a big push for environmental improvements.

This advertisement said a great deal, in a very few words.