Fewer reporters in state capitals could mean less accountability for state legislators

Reflecting a national trend, the Washington Legislature is meeting with fewer reporters watching. "During the past 15 years, the state population has increased by 25 percent and the amount of tax money spent by the state has more than doubled," reports The Washington Newspaper, the journal of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association and Allied Daily Newspapers of Washington. "Yet the number of print, television and radio journalists covering the state Legislature full time has dropped by about 70 percent."

The number of journalists covering the Legislature has dropped from 34 in 1993 to 17 in 2007. There is growing concern that without journalists to monitor the Legislature it will be harder to keep tabs on the politicians in Olympia. "That's not to say all politicians are crooks, but even some state lawmakers say journalists are needed to rat out the Legislature on occasion, especially when it comes to the budget," TWN reports. As newspapers across the country are forced to make staff cuts and budget cuts many are left wondering how much longer they will be able to finance quality reporting. (Read more)