Political news is a representation of current events and relevant issues in politics, whether it relates to individuals (politicians, governments, international organizations) or collective actors (parties, interest groups, social movements). It also refers to the public discourse among these actors, including verbal behavior such as statements, political claims, accusations, and denials.
The development of the cheap, mass-circulation newspaper in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, followed by radio and television about a century later, made it possible to distribute political news on a continuous basis to a wide audience. The emergence of the global news logistics — foreign correspondents and news agencies, 24-hour news networks, and a variety of web sites — has made political news as easily accessible today as other types of information.
It is widely believed that the main goals of the mass media – to record events, act as a “watchdog” to disclose political misbehavior, facilitate public discourse and foster citizens’ participation in politics – are best performed under the conditions of freedom of the press. These conditions are defined by the absence of censorship, the availability of a plurality of sources of information and open access to the media for all citizens.
Some critics of the media state that major sources of political news often favor one party or candidate, creating rampant misinformation and a lack of transparency in the presentation of positions and policies. Others point to the need to make money and the human need to belong to a community, team or tribe, as the driving forces behind political journalism.