News Coverage and Access to Contextual Policy Information in the Case of Recreational Water Rights in Colorado

Local news media help shape the agendas from which new policies emerge. Furthermore, local media help determine public understanding of complex issues. Media should inform citizens and policymakers on important policy issues. This study uses a content analysis of 11 newspapers to understand the manner in which reporters covered a specific environmental policy issue in Colorado. Findings indicate that news coverage did not provide local readers with contextual information important in forming policy opinions. These findings support mass communication and policy scholarship on the limitations of local media in adequately informing citizens and policymakers.