Visibility Is Not the Same as Political Relevance
Being seen on TV and being decisive at the polls are two different things — won in different ways.
15 July 2026Media visibility and political relevance are frequently conflated. A candidate or party with strong media presence — television appearances, newspaper profiles, social media reach — is often assumed to be in a strong position. But visibility and relevance operate on different tracks.
Relevance is determined at the ward and LGA level, by relationships, track record, and the ability to mobilise. Visibility is a function of media strategy. The two reinforce each other when aligned, but one cannot substitute for the other.
This note explores the distinction and its implications for how campaigns allocate resources between media and ground operations.