News outlets reduce statehouse reporter staffing

The media coverage of statehouse politics is deteriorating as fewer reporters work on the beat once considered one of the most plum jobs in metro daily newsrooms, according to a new report released Thursday.

The study by the Journalism Project at the Pew Research Center found about 1,600 reporters assigned to state capitol buildings nationwide, down 35 percent from 2003, according to USA Today.

"In numerous conversations with journalists, legislative leaders and other experts, the one sentiment expressed again and again was concern about the impact of a perceived decline in mainstream media coverage," said Mark Jurkowitz, associate director of the Journalism Project at the Pew Research Center.

Read more from USA Today.