Elections continue to lead the news story playlist

0

ChartAccording to the Project for Excellence in Journalism, three out of five media believed that the economy was the top story for the week of 5/14-20 (online sources put it in a 11%-11% tie with European economy reporting). But cable and radio devoted so much time to the presidential election that once again it was the overall top story.


Its total coverage comprised 17% of the newshole, ahead of the economy at 14% — but with cable giving it 37% and radio 31%, it prevailed again – despite the fact that it received a scant 5% of newspaper coverage and only 4% of network TV coverage.

The Facebook IPO put it in an overall three-way tie for 3rd place, along with the aforementioned European economy and the Trayvon Martin shooting, with 5% each.

The biggest oddity of the week was reporting on the Wisconsin recall election being faced by Scott Walker. It made only the radio top ten list – but made it on radio with a very big splash, tied for the medium’s #2 slot with 9% of its newshole.

Story Overall Nwspr Online NetTV CATV Radio
2012 presidential election 17% 5% 9% 4% 37% 31%
Economy 14% 20% 11% 17% 12% 9%
European economy 5% 4% 11% 2% 2% 3%
Trayvon Martin shooting 5% 3% 3% 9% 6% 6%
Facebook news 5% 4% 7% 6% 3% 2%
John Edwards scandal 4% x 5% 10% 4% x
Afghanistan 3% 3% 6% x 2% 3%
Middle East unrest 3% 4% x x 5% 3%
China 2% x 6% x x x
Same-sex marriage debate 2% x 3% x x 4%
Energy debate x 6% x x x x
Education system x 5% 2% x x x
US minority births x 4% x 3% x x
Donna Summers dies x x x 4% x x
Mexican drug war x x x 3% x x
Mary Kennedy suicide x x x 3% x x
Iran x x x x 2% x
Scott Walker recall x x x x 2% 9%
Baseball steriods scandal x x x x x 2%
Source: Project for Excellence in Journalism