I think the media covers Congress fairly because the media is regulated and just broadcasts or reports the events that take place in the house without any alterations. The Citizens have a right of hearing what their representatives are debating in the Congress or any issues being raised. It is therefore fair for the Congress to be covered by the media because they represent the interests of the public. Despite the fact that media reports inform the public of the proceedings and events that affect them in the Congress, I think some of the media reports should be off-limits. The media should not focus much on the private lives of representatives or candidates because these kinds of reporting appear partisan and might make one think that the media wants to deceive the affected individual.
A recent example that showed the media going into the private life of a Congress representative is the case of Newt Gingrich and a CNN newsman John King (O’Loughlin, 2012). The media reported how Gingrich failed in sustaining his marriage with his previous wife. Here, the public and particularly the voters who got access to the video and article would react negatively to the report and maybe change their perception and support for Gingrich based on his private life. Again, this kind of media reporting on private life can be an ultimately meaningless gossip that serves no purpose to the interest of the nation and the public.
Reference
O’Loughlin, M. J. (2012). The private lives of candidates. America Press. Retrieved from https://www.americamagazine.org/content/all-things/private-lives-candidates.
