Three out of five media made health care the top news story for the week of 3/8-14/10, according to the Project for Excellence in Journalism. It took 19% of the total newshole, well ahead of the economic crisis, which was the #2 story with 12%. But the economy earned 24% of newspaper coverage, followed by education at 9%, and THEN came health care with only 6%. So how did it score its overall knockout?
A big part of the answer can be found by looking at the cable TV chart, which placed health care at 27%, scandals in Congress at 13% and the economy at a mere 6% (although still good for 3rd place).
But radio was the true propellant of the health care story, devoting almost half of its time – 46% — to it. Afghanistan came in 2nd there with 10%, followed by the economy with 9%.
Stories related in one way or another to the Mideast combined for 10% when totaled. The related categories included Afghanistan, events in Iraq, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the saga of Jihad Jane.
| Story | Overall | Newspaper | Online | NetTV | CATV | Radio |
| Health care debate | 19% | 6% | 13% | 10% | 27% | 46% |
| Economic crisis | 12% | 24% | 14% | 4% | 6% | 9% |
| Congressional scandals | 5% | x | 4% | 5% | 13% | 4% |
| Toyota recall | 5% | x | 7% | 8% | 4% | 4% |
| Education system | 5% | 9% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 1% |
| Afghanistan | 3% | 3% | x | 3% | x | 10% |
| Events in Iraq | 3% | 4% | 5% | 5% | x | x |
| Israeli-Palestinan conflic | 2% | x | 3% | x | 3% | 1% |
| Jihad Jane | 2% | x | 4% | 3% | 2% | 1% |
| Oscars | 2% | 3% | x | 4% | x | x |
| 2010 elections | x | 4% | x | x | 2% | x |
| Haiti earthquake | x | 4% | x | x | x | x |
| Immigration debate | x | 3% | x | x | x | x |
| Pakistan | x | 2% | x | x | x | 2% |
| Chile earthquake | x | x | 4% | x | x | x |
| Hurricane Katrina aftermatn | x | x | 3% | x | x | x |
| SCOTUS/campaign finance | x | x | x | 2% | x | x |
| Domestic terrorism | x | x | x | x | 2% | x |
| Obama administration | x | x | x | x | 2% | 3% |
Source: Project for Excellence in Journalism
