Serving the working press since 1910

How to use us best

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Subscribers who use the Web site get by far the best deal because it's updated so continually and it's where the archives reside.  But the most important products can also be delivered via e-mail, fax and hard copy.  

We want you to know everything we do about what's going to happen on Beacon Hill.
Over the weekend or on Monday, read the Advances to get a comprehensive look at what's expected to make news in the week ahead and why.  First thing each weekday, check the schedule to see what's slated for the governor, Legislature and agencies.  Later in the day, look for for updates to the schedules and editor's advisories signalling what we're tracking and planning to attend. "Story developing" at the end of any Web-page headline is your signal that a full-length story will be issued on the topic, usually about 5 p.m.

The News Service web site is intended to be a virtual State House bureau on your desktop.
The News Service web site is updated constantly; as soon as a press release is received or an event takes place, we put up a short description.  Headlines about press releases usually give a contact name and number.  The text of most press releases is posted shortly after the  headline goes up.  News stories about daily events usually go out a few hours after the headline appears.   We also produce exclusive feature stories about newsmakers and issues; those usually go out in the late afternoon.   Over time, we are building a photo archive, and the photos we post on our Web site are slowly getting more attention and demand.  

Along with the daily news stories and exclusive features, the News Service produces gavel-to-gavel coverage of every action taken and every speech given on the floor of the House and Senate.  Legislative action is posted and sent out ASAP; again Web users have the advantage because the headlines alert subscribers of major actions right away.

The News Service also has an "alert system" by which subscribers can identify their issues of interest in advance, and get notified via email when our copy mentions those topics.  The service is a free add on to the service for any subscriber who requests it. 

Reporters and government affairs professionals doing research use our archives over the web.  They go back to 1986.