More Americans get their news from local TV stations than from any other source. Millions also tune in to the network news every evening. But broadcasters are falling short of what used to be one of their goals: providing information viewers need to shape their opinions and decisions, to make choices in the voting booth.

Studies show that the quantity and quality of broadcast political coverage are in sharp decline. Even so, Americans continue to look to TV for political news. Unfortunately, broadcast news faces increased competition from cable news networks and the Internet, and in-depth coverage is left to those outlets. Also, news directors are under increased pressure from corporate bosses to produce programming designed to generate advertising revenue, and they assume politics won't do that.

We've learned that's not necessarily the case. The Norman Lear Center’s Local News Archive has found at least a few of the television news operations placing heavy emphasis on political programming do not lose viewers and have not suffered in the ratings either. Voters are viewers, and they do tune in.

Reliable Resources wants to help return high-quality TV coverage of issues and candidates, once the staple of American political campaigns, to broadcast newsrooms. With the help of educators, journalists, TV broadcasters, and the public, we are developing a set of tools designed to help news managers improve the quality and quantity of campaign coverage, and keep viewers both engaged and informed.