A study compared information made available to the media by the White House with information provided to the public by the media to examine the extent to which the White House information agenda influenced the media's agenda. Content analysis was used to compare information disseminated by the White House between June 1 and June 28, 1986 with news media reports published during the same period. It was hypothesized (1) that fewer than half the media news stories about the President and other policy actors would contain information provided directly by White House handouts; (2) that the news media would show a preference for White House information on certain subjects; (3) that when the news media included information provided by the White House press office in their news reports, the leads of those stories would likely emphasize the same information as the leads of the corresponding handouts; and (4) that news stories about the President or other "occupants" of the White House would usually be neutral in tone, rather than favorable or unfavorable. Three of the four hypotheses were supported: the hypothesis dealing with subjects about which the media were most likely to use White House information was supported only in part. Findings suggest that only some of the time can the White House press office focus mass media attention on subjects and specifics about which it wishes the audience to be informed. The relationship between the media and the White House might be improved if public relations sources exercised greater judgment as to what constitutes hard news and if fewer of the informational handouts were "party line" and self-serving. (Eight tables of data and 42 footnotes are appended.) (NKA)