Reporting on Congress: Research Note on Journalists’ Norms in a Political Media Climate

Abstract

Reporters covering Congress have adapted to a world where reporting reputations derive from Twitter/X followers and digital proximity. This short article examines the ways in which Twitter has impacted the norms and practices of political reporters and editors who have adapted to a Twitter-driven information climate. Drawing from literature on institutional adaptation, I consider the digital impact on the business of covering Congress, relying on the experiences of those at the front lines of this information exchange to detail how reporters have adapted to the rapid response information environment. Through in-depth interviews with political journalists, I find that reporters experience rapid adaptation as political actors are incentivized to respond to and fuel engagement on Twitter. The results suggest Twitter has caused substantial changes to daily reporting practices, however, participants do not use Twitter in ways that suggest a major shift in traditional journalistic norms, such as objectivity and gatekeeping.