Congress and the Media

A recurring theme in many of the Center's publications is the relationship between Congress and the media. This section is primarily for journalists, though members of the general public might find that an "insider's" view of covering Congress can be quite informative as well.

The Media and the Federal Budget Process
To encourage the media to pay more attention to the federal budget's impact on every American, the Center on Congress has brought together prominent experts to explain the complicated budget process to journalists, and to give reporters tips on producing stories that will help citizens see how spending and taxing decisions in Washington, D.C., affect local communities. The Center partnered with the National Press Foundation and the Regional Reporters Association to host a half-day seminar, "Covering the Federal Budget," in Washington, in January 2006, January 2007 and again in January 2008.

Close Up/CSPAN programs: The Media and Congress
In partnership with the Close Up Foundation and C-SPAN television, the Center on Congress produced two programs on "The Media and Congress." These programs brought leading journalists and academics before audiences of students for a lively discussion of topics including: how the media cover Congress; the influence of C-SPAN and the Internet on the operations of Congress and public perceptions of the institution; media objectivity; and the media's crucial role in helping citizens sustain representative democracy.