Capitol Beat

As the size of government has grown in recent decades, the Fourth Estate on Capitol Hill has shrunk by 72%; currently 160 outlets maintain reporters with Congressional credentials, down from 564 outlets in the mid-1980s. The number claiming a presence in Washington generally, according to capitol directories, has fallen by more than half. In its place, a new sector of niche media has grown, offering more specialized and detailed information for a targeted audience. Indeed, the organization with the largest number of journalists accredited to the press galleries in Congress is CQ. Foreign media have also increased their presence in Washington in recent years. Read More