Reporting US Politics: The Local TV Perspective

Beginning with a historical overview of political reporting, and contextualizing political journalism and local TV news within wider industry issues, this book goes on to offer an essential understanding of the complex decision-making inherent in this critical form of journalism today. In accessible and engaging language, Calfano introduces students to all the basics of local political TV reporting—writing, shooting, editing, and producing—touching on long-form interviewing, political "talkbacks," election coverage, using data, and investigative journalism as a means of uncovering political stories. Readers will learn about working the political beats, from the City Hall to the Statehouse and from policy to budgets, in a way which is both compelling and ethical. A chapter on local, state, and federal government acts as a quick reference primer to the US political landscape. Each chapter includes a series of reflection exercises and ideas for exploring political coverage from the perspectives introduced, and case studies help readers translate what they’ve learned into real-world practice. This book also features a list of quick hacks for political reporters and a political resource list which TV news reporters and producers can go to for sources and government information.

This textbook is essential reading for anyone aspiring to become a reporter, producer, or news manager in the United States and will also be of great value to students of Political Journalism, Broadcast Journalism, and Local TV News worldwide.