News directors delivered a split decision on news coverage during the week of 4/30-5/6 – and according to the Project for Excellence in Journalism, developments in China got more coverage than the presidential election at three out of five media.
However, the usual strong focus on the elections from the cable sector, with an assist from radio, once again put the 2012 presidential election in the #1 coverage slot overall by a 15%-12% margin. The economy (9%) and a look back at the death of Osama bin Laden (8%) came close to double digits while capturing the #3 and #4 slots.
News story about the media itself do not often crack the PEJ top ten list, but during this week online and network TV journalists, who were the only media to put the News Corporation hacking scandal on their lists, nevertheless helped it garner enough coverage to grab #9 overall.
| Story | Overall | Nwspr | Online | NetTV | CATV | Radio |
| 2012 Presidential election | 15% | 12% | 10% | 3% | 32% | 19% |
| China | 12% | 15% | 15% | 13% | 9% | 5% |
| Economy | 9% | 8% | 9% | 12% | 5% | 15% |
| Osama bin Laden killed | 8% | 3% | 10% | 11% | 5% | 9% |
| Afghanistan | 6% | 3% | 5% | 10% | 9% | 7% |
| Terror threats/security | 3% | 3% | x | 6% | 3% | 3% |
| John Edwards scandal | 2% | x | 3% | 9% | x | x |
| European economy | 2% | 3% | 3% | x | x | 3% |
| NOTW hacking | 2% | x | 4% | 2% | x | x |
| Facebook news | 2% | x | 4% | x | x | x |
| Global warming | x | 3% | x | x | x | x |
| US auto industry | x | 2% | x | x | x | 1% |
| Pollution/emissions | x | 2% | x | x | x | x |
| Secret Svc prostitution scandal | x | x | 3% | x | 2% | x |
| Junior Seau death | x | x | x | 2% | x | x |
| 9/11 commemorations | x | x | x | 2% | 2% | x |
| FAMU hazing scandals | x | x | x | x | 4% | x |
| War on Terror | x | x | x | x | 3% | x |
| Apple news | x | x | x | x | x | 4% |
| Cyberspace issues | x | x | x | x | x | 1% |
| Source: Project for Excellence in Journalism | ||||||
