Oil rig recaptures media attention, with balanced coverage beneath

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The ongoing saga of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill continued to dominate media news coverage during the week of 7/5-11/10, according to the latest report from the Project for Excellence in Journalism. It took 15% of available time and space; not a tremendous percentage for a #1 story, but more than double what any other story received.


The ongoing tales of the 2010 elections and the economic crisis picked up 7% each, and the ongoing Afghanistan saga and the recently-breaking Russian spy scandal weighed in with 6% each.

Despite its clear hold on the #1 slot, the oil spill was #1 in only three of the five media sectors PEJ monitors. Newspapers went with the elections, and radio highlighted the economy.

Story Overall Newspaper Online NetTV CATV Radio
Oil spill 15% 8% 12% 18% 25% 10%
2010 elections 7% 13% 7% 4% 5% 4%
Economic crisis 7% 9% 5% 3% 6% 12%
Russian spy scandal 6% 4% 11% 8% 4% x
Afghanistan 6% 4% 4% 6% 7% 7%
Immigration debate 4% 4% x 2% 9% 7%
East Coast heat wave 4% x 3% 14% x x
Israel-Palestine 4% 3% 7% 3% x x
LeBron James 3% x 3% 7% x 4%
Obama administration 2% 3% x x 3% 6%
China x 3% x x x x
Haiti earthquake x 3% x x x x
Grim Sleeper x x 2% x x x
Iran x x 2% x x x
Missing persons x x x 3% x x
Voter intimidation x x x x 7% 3%
Leadership future/GOP x x x x 4% x
Health care debate x x x x 3% x
4th of July events x x x x x 4%
War on Terror x x x x x 3%
Source: Project for Excellence in Journalism