ABSTRACT
This is a book about the media and Congress. Three key rationales stand out for new effort to explain this relationship. First, previous books have limited their attention to relatively narrow media, ignoring the vast array of ways information about Congress enters the public consciousness. Second, both Congress and the media have undergone signifi cant changes in the last few decades, challenging the context of many previous studies. Third, there is little question that Congress is in trouble when it comes to its public relations. Understanding how Congress is portrayed in the media may help Congress more effectively play its intended role in American democracy.
