The Project for Excellence in Journalism media coverage charts for the week of 3/17/08-3/23/08 once again chronicle the fierce gravitational pull of the 2008 campaign, which once again eclipsed coverage of all other stories. But with a rather lengthy lull in the primary schedule its share of the newshole didn’t quite make it to the 40% threshold, and a growing bad news story — the sorry state of the US economy — managed to jump into double digits and was within shouting distance of at least getting half the coverage of the campaign.
The actual shares were 39% and 16%. Most stunning is this: Newspapers actually gave the economy top billing by a 25%-16% margin. The overall combined total of the two crowded out most other stories, but China and the debate over Iraq policy each gained a respectable 5% of overall media attention. Overall, Iraq categories, which dominated 2007 coverage, made a modest return to the chart, with three entries combining for a 10% share.
The best news was probably to the benefit of Eliot Spitzer — his bone-jarring descent from NY Governor to civilian had already simmered down to a mere 2% share.
| Story | Overall | Newspr | Online | NetTV | CATV | Radio |
| 2008 campaign | 39% | 16% | 23% | 29% | 73% | 53% |
| US economy | 16% | 25% | 13% | 21% | 7% | 10% |
| China | 5% | 7% | 11% | 3% | 1% | x |
| Iraq policy | 5% | 4% | 6% | 6% | 3% | 6% |
| Midwest storms | 4% | x | 9% | 9% | 4% | 2% |
| Iraq events | 3% | 5% | 2% | 3% | 1% | 4% |
| Iraq homefront | 2% | 5% | x | 3% | 1% | x |
| Spitzer scandal | 2% | 3% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 3% |
| Supreme Court actions | 1% | x | 5% | 2% | x | x |
| War on terror | 1% | 1% | 3% | x | 1% | x |
| Immigration | x | 2% | x | x | 1% | x |
| Health care debate | x | 1% | x | x | x | x |
| Domestic terrorism | x | x | 2% | x | x | x |
| Kenya election/violence | x | x | x | 1% | x | x |
| Iran | x | x | x | x | x | 2% |
| Pakistan | x | x | x | x | x | 1% |
| Abortion | x | x | x | x | x | 1% |
| Gas/oil prices | x | x | x | x | x | 1% |
Source: Project for Excellence in Journalism
