This study sought to ascertain how the press covers higher education and how public research universities work with the press to advance their agendas. It examined the coverage that eight newspapers devoted to six public research universities, namely the Universities of Pittsburgh, Colorado (Boulder), Minnesota, California (Berkeley), and California (San Diego), as well as Ohio State University and the University of California System Office. The study also interviewed newspaper and university officials regarding press coverage of higher education and specific institutions. The results indicated the differing roles that the newspapers had in regard to their coverage of the local university, focusing on reportage in regard to consumer advising, policing the university, window on the university, higher education politics, higher education trends, and social trends. The results compared the differing editorial policies of the newspapers in regard to news balance, thresholds of evidence for claims of wrongdoing, community expectations, use of informants, and "puff" pieces. (Contains 73 references.) (MDM)