Congress, the press, and the public

Abstract

This work aims to explore how the media presents Congress to the American public and how, in turn, the public perceives Congress. The book examines how the growing public hostility towards Congress may be caused by the way Congress is presented to and interpreted for the public via the press. Public opinion scholars analyze historical data to discern trends in and sources of public hostility towards Congress. Media specialists examine patterns of congressional coverage in national print and television news and attitudes towards Congress among producers, editors and reporters. And students of Congress explore the tools and techniques leaders and rank-and-file members use in presenting themselves and their institution to the public. The book concludes by assessing the role the media plays in presenting Congress to the public and what the media and Congress might do to improve public understanding.