- Our reporting staff has been accredited since 1973 by the U.S. House and Senate daily press galleries, which are located in the Capitol Building and governed by the Standing Committee of Correspondents. To hold congressional a press card, we must adhere to ethical and professional rules stating, in part, that accredited reporters
“…must not be engaged in any lobbying or paid advocacy, advertising, publicity or promotion work for any individual, political party, corporation, organization, or agency of the U.S. Government, or in prosecuting any claim before Congress or any federal government department” and that their publication “must be editorially independent of any institution, foundation or interest group that lobbies the federal government, or that is not principally a general news organization.”
- We base coverage decisions primarily on the extent to which a given legislative measure receives prominent play in leading newspapers (print and digital editions) and reputable network and cable news programs – its newsworthiness. We also draw upon the judgments of our experienced journalistic staff, and we take note of public opinion polling (Gallup, Marist, Monmouth, Pew, etc.) on the topics in current affairs that most concern the American public.
- We focus our coverage on substantive legislative actions that have a lasting impact on the quality of constituents’ lives while avoiding the fleeting, personality-driven congressional coverage that is the specialty of some news organizations.