Do Celebrity Endorsements Matter in Elections?
Ask students: What historic examples does the piece include regarding celebrity endorsements? When did Taylor Swift endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for president?
Pop culture and politics have a history of crossover. These intersections take on new significance during an election year, but how important are celebrity endorsements of candidates, and do they actually make a difference in voters’ minds? Lisa Desjardins speaks with Mark Harvey, author of “Celebrity Influence: Politics, Persuasion, and Issue-Based Advocacy,” for more on this topic.
Discussion Questions
- What historic examples does the piece include regarding celebrity endorsements?
- When did Taylor Swift endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for president?
- Who were the past presidents endorsed by the celebrities featured in the piece?
- Why do celebrities endorse presidential candidates?
- How important are celebrity endorsements, according to this story?
Focus Questions
- Do you think it will make a difference that Taylor Swift endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president? Explain your response.
- Do you think celebrities should endorse political candidates? Why or why not?
- Media literacy: Why do you think there are discrepancies in the research as to whether or not celebrity endorsements sway voters? How could you find out more?
2024 Election Lesson Plans and Resources
Explore our election resources to engage your students in learning about the election process and its significance at every level. Discover lessons on election fundamentals, laws, security, current events, youth involvement, and historic U.S. elections.
Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Classroom.
PBS NewsHour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of NewsHour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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