Abstract
Existing research documents a loss in full-time statehouse reporters, inferring negative impacts on legislative coverage. However, little empirical work actually examines statehouse news content. Using Washington State as a case study, we analyze content produced by eight news organizations to examine what audiences receive as part of the current legislative reporting landscape. We find that nearly half of legislative reporting is produced by reporters working outside the statehouse beat. Moreover, story topic and sourcing patterns vary depending on the type of reporter conducting this work. Additional implications and directions for future research are discussed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
