Congress, the Press, and Political Accountability

by Arnold, R. Douglas

• ISBN13: 9780691117102
• ISBN10: 0691117101
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-04-05
• Publisher: Princeton Univ Pr

Summary

Congress, the Press, and Political Accountabilityis the first large-scale examination of how local media outlets cover members of the United States Congress. Douglas Arnold asks: do local newspapers provide the information citizens need in order to hold representatives accountable for their actions in office? In contrast with previous studies, which largely focused on the campaign period, he tests various hypotheses about the causes and consequences of media coverage by exploring coverage during an entire congressional session. Using three samples of local newspapers from across the country, Arnold analyzes all coverage over a two-year period--every news story, editorial, opinion column, letter, and list. First he investigates how twenty-five newspapers covered twenty-five local representatives; and next, how competing newspapers in six cities covered their corresponding legislators. Examination of an even larger sample, sixty-seven newspapers and 187 representatives, shows why some newspapers cover legislators more thoroughly than do other papers. Arnold then links the coverage data with a large public opinion survey to show that the volume of coverage affects citizens' awareness of representatives and challengers. The results show enormous variation in coverage. Some newspapers cover legislators frequently, thoroughly, and accessibly. Others--some of them famous for their national coverage--largely ignore local representatives. The analysis also confirms that only those incumbents or challengers in the most competitive races, and those who command huge sums of money, receive extensive coverage.

Author Biography

R. Douglas Arnold is William Church Osborn Professor of Public Affairs and Professor of Politics at Princeton University

Table of Contents

List of Tables and Figures	p. ix
Acknowledgments	p. xi
Legislators, Journalists, and Citizens	p. 1
Explaining the Volume of Newspaper Coverage	p. 29
How Newspapers Cover Legislators	p. 64
Legislators as Position Takers	p. 92
Legislators as Policy Makers	p. 125
Legislators as Candidates	p. 156
How Newspapers Differ	p. 194
Effects of Newspaper Coverage on Citizens	p. 221
The Press and Political Accountability	p. 244
References	p. 265
Index	p. 273
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