This work aims to explore how the media presents Congress to the American public and how, in turn, the public perceives Congress.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction / Thomas E. Mann and Norman J. Ornstein -- Popular support for Congress and its members / Herb Asher and Mike Barr -- Public opinion toward Congress : a historical look / Karlyn Bowman and Everett Carll Ladd -- Press coverage of Congress, 1946-92 / Mark J. Rozell -- Less news is worse news : television news coverage of Congress, 1972-92 / S. Robert Lichter and Daniel R. Amundson -- The Decline and fall of Congressional news / Stephen Hess -- How the press views Congress / Kimberly Coursen Parker -- Brighter lights, wider windows : presenting Congress in the 1990s / Ronald D. Elving.