Congress, the press, and political accountability

R. Douglas Arnold

"Congress, the Press, and Political Accountability is the first large-scale examination of how local media outlets cover members of the United States Congress. 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." "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."--Jacket.