A study tested five sets of hypotheses derived from an interaction model of the ways reporters and legislators exchange information. Three hypotheses attempted to distinguish among election-oriented, policy-oriented, and specialist legislators in the ways they seek information, and two hypotheses predicted the patterns of reporter-legislator interactions. A survey of Indiana state legislators and a content analysis of legislative reporting during one legislative session provided the data. Results indicated mixed support for the information-seeking hypotheses for legislators. In general, election-oriented legislators sought hometown media sources of information, while specialists sought capitol-based reporters. However, policy- and influence-oriented legislators seemed to use both capitol-based and hometown reporters. The expected avoidance of hometown media sources is also found for influence-oriented legislators. The usefulness ascribed to media sources followed the expected pattern, with election-oriented legislators ascribing usefulness to most media sources, followed by policy-oriented, specialist, and influence-oriented legislators. Story characteristics basically confirmed expectations that reporter interaction with sources was conditioned in part by editorial stress on copy production. (JL)