The nature of local news media issue coverage of U.S. House members

In this paper, I examine local newspaper issue coverage of House members after the campaign season has ended. While research on news coverage of campaign issues has been thorough, considerably less attention has been placed on issue coverage outside of campaigns. This is particularly the case for the local news media. Using an extensive content analysis of House member local newspaper coverage over a one-year period, I examine the nature of local and national issue coverage. I find that local issues are covered slightly more than national issues in reporting on House members. Further, members’ strategic use of press releases and the presence of newspapers’ Washington bureaus help explain whether a story will cover a local or national political issue.

► Local newspaper coverage of U.S. House members outside of campaign season.
► Local papers cover slightly more local than national political issues.
► Coverage is concentrated on policy issues followed by constituency service.
► House members can influence issue coverage through press releases.
► Papers with Washington bureaus cover more national than local issues.