Television Coverage of State Government

Abstract

Abstract

An empirical analysis of 3,334 state and local television news stories in 10 cities clarifies the reluctance of commercial television newscasters to cover state government. Contrary to what many television news directors assert, television's minimal attention to state government cannot be attributed to an alleged negative relationship between state government and newscast ratings. Rather, it appears to stem from the high cost of obtaining filmed coverage of state government in a timely fashion.