WHO GETS NATIONAL NEWS COVERAGE IN THE U.S. SENATE?

Abstract

Which senators get national media attention? This is an important question to answer because it provides us some insight into what information citizens are given about the institution. In this article I undertake multivariate analysis to determine which of many hypothesized variables determine the level of media attention senators get on television network news, Sunday interview shows, and in national newspapers. Results from regressions indicate that somewhat different groups of variables are important for different media. Only those holding senate leadership positions receive additional coverage on all three media. Presidential candidates also get more coverage on two media. Seniority and personal ideology do not matter much at all. Overall, it appears that the media in general focus on those senators whose institutional positions warrant such attention.

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