Abstract
The news media can provide information that makes it easier for citizens to express their views to members of Congress who are considering a public policy issue. This study examined coverage of eight major issues in the House of Representatives by nine news media organizations, and it found that the news media serve to hinder - rather than facilitate - citizen participation in the congressional policymaking process. The news media rarely explained the implications of a pending issue, rarely alerted the public to a forthcoming vote on an issue and never described the views of a local congressman on an issue.
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