The Political Advertising Resource Center (PARC) is a program of the Center for Political Communication and Civic Leadership at the University of Maryland. PARC is a nonpartisan informational Web site that analyzes the television advertisements used in local, state, and national political campaigns. Both candidate-based and issue ads are analyzed.

PARC is specifically geared to the needs of high school and university educators and students, the news media, civic associations, voter education organizations, political organizations and political watch-dog groups.

This Web site includes:

• (1) a historical overview of the role of political advertising in U.S. politics (Resources & Links);
• (2) summaries of recent trends in political advertising;
• (3) review of campaign finance laws (Resources & Links);
• (4) information on candidates and issues discussed in the ads; and
• (5) current samples of political ads analyzed by political communication professors and graduate students (Ad Analyses--Democrats; Republicans; IEs; General Election);

The construction of PARC began in Spring 2004. The site contains analyses and information concerning advertising in the 2004 presidential election campaign. In September of 2006, PARC also launched the Maryland 2006 Project that offered analyses and research regarding advertising in the gubernatorial and senatorial campaigns in Maryland.

PARC reflects the mission of the Center for Political Communication and Civic Leadership, which unites research, education, and public engagement in order to foster democratic communication by a diverse people. The Center sponsors a series of other programs for the University of Maryland community, including Recovering Democracy Forums to bring candidates for office to campus, and the 1970s Project that seeks greater understanding of this pivotal decade in U.S. history.

For more information about the Center, please visit www.comm.center.umd.edu or contact Dr. Shawn J. Parry-Giles, Director of CPCCL, at (301) 405-6527 or spg@umd.edu.