Author Rob Armstrong discusses the process as well as the day-to-day operation of political organizations, campaigns, strategists, consultants, pollsters, and the role of the reporters covering them all. The book probes the potential pitfalls that lurk for unsuspecting or naive reporters. Yet most of all, Covering Politics focuses on covering politics. In four insightful chapters throughout the book, Armstrong gives a “Roadmap for Reporters.” These “Roadmaps” discuss reportorial problems likely to be encountered and offer strategies, techniques, and tactics for better, more complete coverage.
As an added bonus, more than a dozen interviews are included from noted reporters, politicians, and academics, both inside and outside Washington, D.C. These reporting veterans share their real-world experience and practical, hard-nosed advice. Conversations with veteran political reporters include:
- Bob Schieffer
- David Broder
- Jamie Dupree
- Brit Hume
- Brian Lamb
- Elaine Povich
- Candy Crowley
- Marvin Kalb
Covering Politics: A Handbook for Journalists is the ideal resource for current and future reporters before they hit the campaign trail. .
Acknowledgments xi
Section I Basic Background
Chapter 1 Overview 3
Chapter 2 The American Tradition 11
Chapter 3 Legal Benchmarks 37
Chapter 4 The Process 53
Chapter 5 Roadmap for Reporters: Getting Started 71
Section II The Campaign Trail
Chapter 6 Candidates and Campaigns 85
Chapter 7 The End of the Trail 107
Chapter 8 Roadmap for Reporters: The Campaign Trail and Beyond 119
Section III Nuts and Bolts
Chapter 9 Gadgets, Gizmos and Cyberspace 139
Chapter 10 Money and Manipulation 161
Chapter 11 Taking the Public Pulse 181
Chapter 12 Ethics 199
Chapter 13 Roadmap for Reporters: Advanced Techniques 209
Section IV Where Do We Go from Here?
Chapter 14 Learning from Our Mistakes 229
Chapter 15 Roadmap for Reporters: Better Stories, Better Coverage 251
