A study examined sources of information for articles appearing in the "New York Times" and the "Washington Post" on United States/China policy formation between the years 1950 to 1984 to determine what U.S. government agencies had access to the press in the democratic process. Two aspects of news access were examined: (1) sources of China policy or actors that appeared in the two newspapers, such as the White House or the Defense Department; and (2) the mode of the news source, such as speeches and interviews. Results showed that from 1950 to 1984, the executive branch of the government appeared to be the most dominant source in the policy-making process. Unnamed sources enjoyed fairly privileged access to the China policy news, suggesting that leaks and some other covert actions may have produced sources. However, as a forum of policy debate, Congress remained comparatively obscure in the newspapers' coverage. The newspapers also depended heavily upon news conferences and speeches as sources of information. The results suggest that the hierarchy of the foreign policy environment gives the President and his advisors substantial control over foreign policy initiative and places the executive branch above all other competing forces. (Twenty-seven notes and three tables are included.) (JC)