ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the details of the governance-as-horserace frame in terms of how three groups with an investment in the system are afforded coverage: the president, Congress, and interest groups. It looks first at how the policy process is portrayed from a presidential perspective, with themes borrowed from political campaigns. The chapter shows how the media accentuate familiar horserace themes that favour strategy and sideshow over issue discussion. It examines the reflexive nature of policy Coverage that, like election coverage, features the press as an important actor in its own story. The chapter uses examples from health care stories to illustrate how Congress and interest groups are covered. As for Congress, the media tell us that body is subordinate to the president, a foot-dragging institution not readily given a telegenic human face. It concludes by considering the public's stake in governance and how media coverage might make it difficult to evaluate government's effectiveness.
