Restrictions on direct news coverage of parliamentary affairs

Restriction on press coverage of parliamentary affairs

Nature

Broadcasting media are not allowed to cover parliamentary proceedings directly in most countries. Facilities for the press may be provided, but journalists may be prevailed upon to keep their views as neutral as possible. The result of such restrictions may be alienation, apathy and ignorance, a lack of participation or interest in politics, the tightening of government control, and the maintenance of government secrecy.

Counter-claim

In the UK there has been a marked decline in news coverage of parliamentary debates over past decades. In 1993 it was estimated that two of the quality papers had deliberately reduced their coverage by as much as 75% compared with the mid-1980s.