The Media and Congress

1
The Media and Congress

• The presidency basks in the limelight of
  publicity at all times while congress waits in
  the shadowsthe television age has permanently
  altered the balance of political power, making
  the president dominant and the legislature
  inferior.
• - Doris Graber

2

• Significant difference between national coverage
  and local coverage
• Congress fares better in local coverage about
  individual members of congress.
• Still, even local coverage emphasizes the
  presidency over congress.

3
Why?

• ?

4

• President better media target
• One person, as opposed to 435 House members, 100
  senate members.
• Executive branch led by one person.
• Legislative branch headed by many
• - House speaker, senate majority leader, caucus
  leaders, committee chairs, etc.
• President provides audiences a familiar, easily
  dramatized focus of attention.

5

• No one person speaks for the institution of
  congress.
• Exceptions??
• Sam Rayburn
• Tip ONeil
• Newt Gingrich

6

• Another Reason
• To the media, most of what Congress does is
  boring. At least on television.
• Impassioned speeches get covered.
• Zell Miller
• The legislative process is long, arduous, and not
  very glamorous.
• Floor speeches, committee meetings, debating
  details of bills, etc. is rarely exciting to the
  media.

7

• Legislation is serious and significant, but not
  as easily told in a story format. Structural
  bias again.
• Media focuses on end-product of legislation. By
  then, public has little or no opportunity to
  influence the process.

8

• 1979
• House lifted prohibition of televising floor
  sessions. Effort to counterbalance the media
  dominance of the presidency since the 1940s.
• The Senate followed in 1986.
• C-Span (Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network)
• Newt and C-SPAN

9
The Congress Beat

• Regular daily press briefings in each chamber
  leaders preside committee chairs
• Major news outlets have regular correspondents
  assigned to capitol hill
• Senators get more coverage than Representatives,
  about 6 to 1

10

• Functions provided by media to Congress similar
  to Presidency.
• But with major qualitative difference
• Neither congress nor the media need each other as
  much as the presidency.
• So many sources of news in legislature media can
  afford to alienate some not so with executive
  branch.

11

• National media not as crucial to members of
  congress as it is to the president.
• Congress relies more on home/local media. Thats
  where the voters are.
• Local media less critical. More human interest.
  Members treated as experts.