Journalism, Political

Abstract This entry surveys the main questions and research findings from the study of political journalism. Political journalism fulfills an important mediating role in democracy. The work of journalists on the political beat is characterized by pack journalism and close contacts with politicians and their spin doctors. Political journalists and politicians are mutually dependent actors whose relation can best be understood from a power‐balance perspective. One of the main topics in the study of political news is the question whether political journalism is balanced or biased. Over time the journalistic approach to politicians has changed from a respectful and sacerdotal approach to a more critical and pragmatic one. Political journalists are semi‐independent political actors who can influence the political process but whose work also reflects and is dependent on political settings. Changes in society and new technologies challenge the boundaries of political journalism and affect the relation between journalists and politicians.