For What Reasons Has Press Coverage Of Parliament Declined?

In the early 1990s, there was a growing preoccupation with the activities of government ministers and front benches from the main political parties coupled with a clear neglect of backbenchers and a virtual exclusion of minor parties.  In addition, journalists reported with an increasingly critical edge. In The Guardian, there was an increase in critical coverage by 50% and, in The Mirror, it rose by 350%. The study also found that members enjoyed few opportunities in reports to voice their opinions directly through quoted comment. A study found that the remaining parliamentary coverage in newspapers is driven by news values rather than a purely political agenda. However, in contrast to the pessimistic view, some commentators say that despite the decline in parliamentary coverage, political stories are livelier and more readable than ever before.

News values also have a big part to play in the decline. Parliament does not have a place as a matter of routine in any newspaper and thus it must fight to get in, just like everything else.