Political news refers to the media’s coverage of governmental, social and economic policies. It is often a component of election coverage and can have an impact on public opinion and the outcome of elections. A defining principle of political news should be fairness and balance. This can be achieved by focusing on issues rather than personalities and by giving all candidates an equal chance to discuss their views. In addition, attention should be given to important issues that affect the audience such as housing, education, health, transport and agriculture.
Moreover, the news media is expected to act as a watchdog by reporting on political misbehavior and facilitating citizens’ political participation. These are normative requirements that can only be fulfilled under conditions of free press freedom, which includes the absence of censorship and unrestricted access to the media for all citizens.
In terms of political coverage, partisanship also inevitably influences the information that is broadcast. This can be seen in the fact that about nine-in-ten of those who name MSNBC, Fox News or CBS News as their main source of political news identify themselves as Democrats or independents who lean Democratic, whereas only seven-in-ten of those who named The New York Times or NPR as their primary source of political news are Republicans or independents who lean Republican.
In many cases, it appears as if the political world is little more than a popularity contest, with politicians making decisions to ensure their re-election. Proponents of civic journalism believe that the media’s role in shaping the perception of politics may have been lost, and that for democracy to work it is necessary to encourage people to get involved in local and national affairs, and this can only be done by fostering more active citizenship through a more participatory democracy.