OFF THE BEATEN PATH

You won’t find journalists trailing politicians in the usual places during this fall’s federal election campaign. Delacourt,

We’re headed for an election this year, it seems, without traditional TV debates or maybe even the standard leaders tours. So now that we know what the political media will not be doing in September and October, it may be time to start thinking about what election reporters will be doing instead.

Freed from the expensive prisons of the campaign planes or the pressure of finding a clichéd “knockout punch” on a television stage, how will journalists be spending their time between the call of the election and voting day this year?

Here, in case you’re looking for political reporters during the election campaign, are several places you might find them:

á Watching TV: While we in the media don’t like to admit it, advertising may be more persuasive than traditional journalism in moving votes, especially among that huge swath of the population not paying any attention to political news. Besides, election ads will reach millions more voters than any of those rallies with pre-approved guest lists or elaborately staged photo ops held by the leaders.

It follows, then, that the political ads should be getting more attention than the glancing coverage received in the past — monitored closely for accuracy, as well as effect. Parties will be airing ads on YouTube and Facebook, as well, which means that any reporter wanting to cover the ad campaign will have to keep his or her eyes on more than one type of screen.

Reading the paper: While it’s always a very good idea to read the big daily newspapers (as you’re doing now, either online or with the actual paper product in front of you), these aren’t the only papers reaching voters. There’s a reason that all the leaders hold repeated events with representatives of the so-called “ethnic press” — small media outlets that cater to cultural communities.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has already acknowledged that Conservatives owe a great deal of their electoral success to support from newcomers to Canada. He’ll be trying to hold that base, while the other parties will be trying to steal it from him.

Taking the temperature in those communities, keeping a close watch on how they’re discussing the election in their media, will be an important part of assessing who’s up and who’s down in the coming campaign.

Drinking coffee: We’ve all probably heard enough by now about the mythical “Tim Hortons voters” — also known by the nicknames “hard-working middle class” or “taxpayers.” Get ready to hear a lot more, though.

Often, when we’re referring to Tim Hortons voters, we’re talking about the millions of Canadians living in the suburbs. Moreover, those allimportant 30 new ridings in this election have been formed out of expanding suburbs around big cities.

Every political party in this election is staking its hopes for growth

Political ads should be getting more attention than the glancing coverage received in the past

on the votes in these new suburban ridings. Don’t be surprised if you see some reporters lurking behind you when you’re ordering your doubledouble this fall, especially if your favourite coffee outlet is in a strip mall or parking lot in suburban Ontario, Alberta or B.C.

Eating: The past few election campaigns in Canada have included a holiday or two. In 2005-06, it was Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s; in the last election, in 2011, it was Easter and Passover. This year, as in 2008, Thanksgiving will fall in the midst of the campaign.

Pollsters seemed to agree that party fates may have been decided around holiday dinner tables, the break in the action giving voters time to discuss politics with their families and friends.

So while many reporters will be gratefully spared the steady diet of doughnuts and junk food on the leaders’ planes, they may have to sidle up to a holiday feast or two to do some political taste-testing with average voters.

Hanging out at Rideau Hall: If Harper does summon reporters to Rideau Hall to watch him dissolve Parliament and get the official campaign underway in early September, some may want to stay there.

The governor general’s residence may not see much action during the actual election campaign, but if the results are close on voting day, things could get very interesting, Constitution-wise. At least some of the media should be spending some time reading up on the rules regarding formation of government in Canada, and how coalition rule is sorted out when no party can claim the confidence of the majority of MPs in the Commons. That may be handy knowledge after election day.

These are just a few of the ways in which election reporting may be different this year. Since politicians have decided that the old style of conducting campaigns is over, keep an eye out for new tactics in covering elections, too. sdelacourt@bell.net