News Coverage, Politics

Politics is one of the most important topics in the news. During elections, television news shows and newspapers are filled with politics, but even outside of the election period politics is an important feature of news. News—in newspapers, on television, radio, and the Internet—constitutes the most important source of information for most citizens in the world about politics. A minority of individuals have direct or frequent experiences with politics, such as attending political meetings or interacting with politicians and other (elected) officials. The coverage of politics is, therefore, important to understand in order to judge the information environment in which the media, citizens, and also politicians operate.

Considering how key political issues and elections are covered in different news media around the world involves looking at ...