This study looks at the competition over news exposure during political waves. Political waves are sudden and significant changes in the political environment that are characterized by a substantial increase in the amount of public attention centered on a political issue or event. Four research questions are raised in an attempt to better understand this issue from the perspective of political actors. 1) Which political actors are in the best position to initiate political waves? 2) Which actors are in the best position to exploit political waves? 3) What types of waves provide the greatest news opportunities for political actors? 4) Which types of actors are in the best position to exploit different types of political waves? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]