Education in the nightly news: A conversation with Paul Kuttner and Kevin Coe

Abstract

In this month’s interview, Kappan’s editor talks with Paul Kuttner and Kevin Coe about their recent research into how network television news programs have covered preK-12 education. They found that, over the last 35 years, coverage of education has been rare, well under 1% of total coverage. Stories tend to focus on individual teachers and schools, with less discussion of the big picture behind those stories. The tone of coverage has varied over time, with about 54% overall being negative and 43% positive. Overt criticism of teachers was rare, and teacher voices were included in a slim majority of stories.