Seven Decades of Trailblazing Journalism
Nelson and Henrietta Poynter founded Congressional Quarterly in 1945 based on a simple yet important premise. As Nelson put it:
“The federal government will never set up an adequate agency to check on itself.”
Since then, CQ and Roll Call — which was founded a decade later and focused on Capitol Hill’s people, personalities, and politics — have remained two of journalism’s most iconic brands, serving not only as watchdogs, but as hallmarks of quality, balanced, in-depth coverage.
This year marks the 75th and 65th anniversary of CQ and Roll Call, respectively. The need for publications like these is as important as it was seven decades ago. And in many ways, it’s more urgent.
As it turns time to reflect on the past 75 years, and on this year in particular, it’s with awe and admiration that I think about the work of our journalists (along with their brethren doing similar work for other publications around the world).
This year has brought a combination of disruption and difficulty that has not been seen in our lifetimes, including thousands of lives lost daily to the pandemic and our system of government being tested in unprecedented ways. Yet we are only able to bear witness to all of it because of the ethos that drives reporters to do this work day in, day out, in the face of personal health concerns and a government that has despotically declared the media the enemy of the people (which, of course, hearkens back to Nelson Poynter’s stated foundation for CQ).
CQ and Roll Call have been trusted to deliver comprehensive, accurate and objective reporting on the workings of our legislative and regulatory systems. Our readers include every congressional office, the vast majority of federal agencies, and thousands of organizations. These are the individuals who influence, write, vote on, and enforce legislation and regulations. And I’d like to think that the excellent work produced by the CQ and Roll Call teams helps them do so in as educated and prepared a way as possible. If so, we are helping them to carve a path out of the current chaos.
Please join us as we continue to look back and look ahead, and as we celebrate seven decades of CQ and Roll Call’s trusted, authoritative, and award-winning journalism. On Tuesday, December 15, at 11:00 AM ET, we are hosting a virtual anniversary celebration for employees, partners, customers and friends of the newsroom.
On behalf of CQ Roll Call and FiscalNote, we want to say thank you. Thanks to our loyal subscribers, the journalists who’ve built our legacy, and the people who make Capitol Hill come alive. We couldn’t do this without you.
