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The Journalists' View

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 November 2022

Robert O. Blanchard
Robert O. Blanchard*
Affiliation:
American University
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Extract

I have made relatively frequent use of political science papers and journals in [my] reporting ... I find that there are often very helpful insights in the political science literature and certainly that my own membership in APSA and the reading of the [APSR] Journal is worthwhile.

—David S. Broder

The Washington Post

My membership in APSA was originally part of the reporting awards I won... Since then, I have maintained membership for old times sake. As a working documentary producer, membership hasn’t done anything for me-the journals, PS, etc., are undigestable-even though Nelson Polsby is a nice person.

William R. Leonard

Former Executive Producer, National Broadcasting Company

How useful or “relevant” do journalists find political science sources and information, including that furnished through APSA membership?

The most elementary and obvious response is that national print journalism specialists can make more extensive use of political science that can broadcaster generalists. Between these extremes are responses of other national and local reporters telling us what we may already suspect: that current journalistic practice generally excludes political science sources in routine newsmaking.

But the exceptions to this practice are instructive. They suggest ways and means which political scientists might more effectively close the gap between political science information and its accessability to newsmakers, policymakers, and the public.

Concern has been expressed among journalists that the news media have been relying too much on “official” or institutional sources for news.

Type
The Use of Political Science
Information
PS: Political Science & Politics , Volume 8 , Issue 4 , Fall 1975 , pp. 382 - 385
Copyright
Copyright © The American Political Science Association 1975

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References

1 Wicker, Tom, “The Greening of the Press,” Columbia Journalism Review (May/June, 1971), 7–12.Google Scholar

2 Sigal, Leon, Reporters and Officials, Lexington, Mass.: D.C. Heath Co. (1973).Google Scholar

3 Culbertson, Hugh M., “Veiled News Sources—Who and What are They?”, American Newspaper Publishers Association News Research Bulletin, (May 14, 1975).Google Scholar

4 Sigal, 69.

5 Polsby, Nelson, Political Promises, New York: Oxford Press (1974), 209–210.Google Scholar